[Vocabulary] The thing over the window

Status
Not open for further replies.

birdeen's call

VIP Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
Poland
What do you call this? My dictionary is trying to deceive me.
 
"Curtain rod" in America.
 
Thank you! :)
 
It might be called a "curtain rail" too but the fact that this one is made of wood makes it more likely to be a "curtain pole", to me at least.

...
:up: Absolutely. Specifically, as it's the end of the pole, I think it has a specialist name - 'the finial'. But this would only be used in commercial situations: 'I want to buy a curtain pole.'/'Certainly sir - just the pole, or the finials as well?'

But ordinary people get by without the word!

b
 
In what way is your dictionary trying to deceive you?

Rover
Well, I almost sure it is. The Polish word for this thing is "karnisz". And when I looked at this I saw the translation is "cornice". But I think a cornice is something else.
 
Well, I almost sure it is. The Polish word for this thing is "karnisz". And when I looked at this I saw the translation is "cornice". But I think a cornice is something else.

Totally different. It's the moulding that is put up at the angle where a wall meets a ceiling to make it look more attractive, like this.

Also, I tried reversing the translation and put "cornice" into a couple of online translators. They came up with: gzyms, karnes and krajnik. I put "karnisz" into the same translators and both of them said it was "curtain", not "cornice". I also then put "curtain rail" into the translator and it gave "karnisz" as the Polish. Your dictionary definitely has a problem!!
 
"Karnes"?? This could explain it, but I've never heard this word ;-)

I guess the word "karnisz" might have this other meaning, but I never heard it in my whole life. We call the cornice "gzyms". (I have no idea why I'm saying "the cornice", but I believe it's right. Right?)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ask a Teacher

If you have a question about the English language and would like to ask one of our many English teachers and language experts, please click the button below to let us know:

(Requires Registration)
Back
Top