Austrian blind

noun

variants or Austrian shade or less commonly Austrian curtain

: a curtain that usually can be raised and lowered by pulling a cord and that is gathered along vertical lines in a way that forms a scalloped pattern

… bustles … ruched in the manner of Austrian shades …

—Linda Gillan Griffin, Houston Chronicle, 17 Sept. 1999

Word History

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!