A short decorative piece of fabric hung along the top edge of a bed, window, or canopy.
From Old French 'avalant' meaning 'hanging down,' from 'avaler' meaning 'to lower' or 'to let fall.' This came from Latin 'ad vallem' literally meaning 'toward the valley' — so a valance is etymologically something that 'falls toward the valley.' The word originally described any hanging drapery, but specialized to mean the short decorative border that hangs down from the top of curtains, beds, or canopies.
A valance literally means 'falling toward the valley' — it's a poetic way of describing fabric that hangs downward! Medieval bed valances weren't just decorative; they were crucial for privacy and warmth in shared sleeping quarters, creating a mini-room within a room.
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