valance

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: val=ance

CIDE DICTIONARY

valance, n. [Perhaps fr. OF. avalant descending, hanging down, p. pr. of avaler to go down, let down, descend (cf. Avalanche); but probably from the town of Valence in France.].

•  Hanging drapery for a bed, couch, window, or the like, especially that which hangs around a bedstead, from the bed to the floor.  [1913 Webster]

  "Valance of Venice gold in needlework."  [1913 Webster]
•  The drooping edging of the lid of a trunk, which covers the joint when the lid is closed.  [1913 Webster]

valance, v. t. 

 To furnish with a valance; to decorate with hangings or drapery.  [1913 Webster]
"His old fringed chair valanced around with party-colored worsted bobs."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

valance, n. (also valence) a short curtain round the frame or canopy of a bedstead, above a window, or under a shelf.

Derivative

valanced adj.

Etymology

ME ult. f. OF avaler descend: see VAIL

THESAURUS

valance

beading, binding, bordering, bordure, edging, fimbria, fimbriation, flounce, frill, frilling, fringe, furbelow, galloon, hem, list, motif, ruffle, selvage, skirting, trimming, welt

ROGET THESAURUS

valance

Edge

N edge, verge, brink, brow, brim, margin, border, confine, skirt, rim, flange, side, mouth, jaws, chops, chaps, fauces, lip, muzzle, threshold, door, porch, portal, coast, shore, frame, fringe, flounce, frill, list, trimming, edging, skirting, hem, selvedge, welt, furbelow, valance, gimp, border, marginal, skirting, labial, labiated, marginated.