- curtain lecture
- noun Etymology: from its originally being given behind the curtains of a bed Date: 1633 a private lecture by a wife to her husband
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
curtain lecture
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Curtain lecture — Curtain Cur tain (k[^u]r t[i^]n; 48), n. [OE.cortin, curtin,fr. OF. cortine, curtine, F. courtine, LL. cortina, curtian (in senses 1 and 2), also, small court, small inclosure surrounded by walls, from cortis court. See {Court}.] [1913 Webster] 1 … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
curtain lecture — n. a private reprimand given by a wife to her husband: so called from the curtained beds in which such reproofs were conventionally given … English World dictionary
curtain lecture — noun a private lecture to a husband by his wife • Hypernyms: ↑lecture, ↑speech, ↑talking to … Useful english dictionary
curtain lecture — n. private lecture or scolding a wife gives her husband before going to sleep at night … English contemporary dictionary
curtain lecture — Older Use. a scolding administered in private by a wife to her husband. [1625 35] * * * … Universalium
curtain lecture — noun dated a wife s private reprimand to her husband. Origin C17: orig. a reprimand given behind bed curtains … English new terms dictionary
curtain lecture — cur′tain lec ture n. sts Older Use. a scolding administered in private by a wife to her husband • Etymology: 1625–35 … From formal English to slang
curtain lecture — /ˈkɜtn lɛktʃə/ (say kertn lekchuh) noun (dated) a private scolding, especially one by a wife to her husband. {from the old style four poster bed with canopy and curtains, providing a private space within} …
curtain-lecture — … Useful english dictionary
Curtain — Cur tain (k[^u]r t[i^]n; 48), n. [OE.cortin, curtin,fr. OF. cortine, curtine, F. courtine, LL. cortina, curtian (in senses 1 and 2), also, small court, small inclosure surrounded by walls, from cortis court. See {Court}.] [1913 Webster] 1. A… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
