valance

[val-uh ns, vey-luh ns] /ˈvæl əns, ˈveɪ ləns/
noun
1.
a short curtain or piece of drapery that is hung from the edge of a canopy, from the frame of a bed, etc.
2.
a short ornamental piece of drapery placed across the top of a window.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English; perhaps after Valence, French city noted for cloth-making
Related forms
valanced, adjective
Can be confused
valance, valence.
Examples from the web for valance
  • While the ordinary-language usage has a pejorative valance, it is an adaptive function.
  • Evidence has been mounting in the past few years that xenon, as well as other members of zero valance elements, do form compounds.
  • The catalyzed cementation chemistry centers around the use of zero valance iron.
  • Awnings shall have a loose valance, and should generally be located to fit within window or door recesses.
British Dictionary definitions for valance

valance

/ˈvæləns/
noun
1.
a short piece of drapery hung along a shelf, canopy, or bed, or across a window, to hide structural detail
Derived Forms
valanced, adjective
Word Origin
C15: perhaps named after Valence, France, town noted for its textiles
Word Origin and History for valance
n.

piece of drapery, mid-15c., from Anglo-French *valance, from valer "go down," variant of Old French avaler; or possibly from the plural of Old French avalant, from present participle of avaler "go down." The notion is of something "hanging down."