Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A tapestry, wall hanging, or curtain, especially one of Flemish origin.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Tapestry; specifically, that used for hangings covering the walls of a room.
- noun A kind of powder, probably made of the root of the orris.
- noun In Spanish law, a voluntary gift made by a husband to his wife upon marriage in consideration of the portion which he receives from her.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb To furnish with an arras.
- noun Tapestry; a rich figured fabric; especially, a screen or hangings of heavy cloth with interwoven figures.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A
tapestry orwall hanging .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a wall hanging of heavy handwoven fabric with pictorial designs
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Mr. Morris preferred the word arras as attached to his weavings, tapestry having sometimes the odious modern meaning of machine-made figured stuffs for any sort of furniture covering.
The Tapestry Book Helen Churchill Hungerford Candee 1905
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Some fine specimens of ancient tapestry of Arras, hence the name arras, chiefly in shades of grey and blue, and also specimens of the delicate hand-made Arras lace, are here.
In the Heart of the Vosges And Other Sketches by a "Devious Traveller" Matilda Betham-Edwards 1877
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This tapestry was commonly known as arras, from the name of the French town where it was chiefly woven; and behind it, since it stood forward from the wall, was a most convenient place for a spy.
All's Well Alice's Victory Emily Sarah Holt 1864
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As the word arras had entered English vocabularies centuries before, gobelins became a synonym for tapestry hanging, regardless of the place of origin.
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He asked me if the arras were a present, to which I answered in the affirmative, as the prince was by, lest it might be seized.
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In older English "arras" is used also for tapestry.
The Nibelungenlied Daniel Bussier Shumway
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These I called my "arras," having picked up the word from hearing my father read Shakespeare aloud at night after we were in the trundle-bed.
When Grandmamma Was New The Story of a Virginia Childhood Marion Harland 1876
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It lent her strength to remove the bed, which it was not difficult to do; but the room was hung with old-fashioned glazed linen, when many years before it had been fitted up as a bed-chamber: this kind of arras entirely hid the door.
The Old Manor House 1793
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Another good night of 'arras' and it was great to see the Ronnie Baxter road show still trucking on.
News round-up 2010
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During the party, an amateur production of Hamlet is staged and, at the moment Polonius is due to be stabbed behind the arras, the actor playing him, a political high flyer named Lord Auldearn, is shot dead.
chained_bear commented on the word arras
"a. Arras, name of a town in Artois famed for its manufacture of the fabric." (OED)
October 11, 2008
sarra commented on the word arras
Look familiar, c_b…?
October 11, 2008
chained_bear commented on the word arras
? *confused*
October 11, 2008
sarra commented on the word arras
*stretches out back-to-front*
October 11, 2008
chained_bear commented on the word arras
HAAAAA!! Cute! *is dense*
October 11, 2008
bilby commented on the word arras
You've had your hair cut?
October 11, 2008