Etymology Map
Back to all words

Curtain

3 stages from Late Latin to English.

Today it means a piece of cloth hung to cover a window or screen a stage

Where does the word "curtain" come from? It comes from Late Latin cortina, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
cortina
Late Latin · ancient
"hanging, curtain"
used in the Latin Bible for the hangings of the Tabernacle
2
Stage 2 of 3
cortine
Old French · medieval
"bed curtain"
hung around beds and doorways to keep out draughts
3
Stage 3 of 3
curtain
English · 1300s
"a hanging cloth screen"
the theatre curtain, and 'curtains' meaning the end, came later
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Curtain’s story begins in Late Latin: cortina meant “hanging, curtain.” Used in the Latin Bible for the hangings of the Tabernacle. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as cortine. Hung around beds and doorways to keep out draughts. It reached English by 1300s as curtain. The theatre curtain, and 'curtains' meaning the end, came later. Today, curtain means a piece of cloth hung to cover a window or screen a stage.