parclose

• paraclose
• perclose

From Middle English parclose, perclose, from Old French parclos, perclose and others, Middle French parclose (“end, enclosure”), noun use of past participle of parclore (“to enclose”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɑːkləʊz/

parclose (plural parcloses)

1. A partition that closes off part of a building; especially one that separates an altar or chapel from the rest of a church.
2. (heraldry) The lower half of a garter with the buckle.
3. (obsolete) An enclosed area, especially one separated from the main body of a building by a screen or partition.
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “Tercium”, in Le Morte Darthur, book XIV:

     Thenne syr Percyual aspyed that therin was a man or a woman / for the vysage was couerd / thenne he left of his lokyng and herd his seruyse / And whan hit came to the sacrynge / he that lay within that Percloos dressid hym vp and vncouerd his heede / and thenne hym besemed a passynge old man / and he had a crowne of gold vpon his hede
     "Then Sir Percivale espied that therein was a man or a woman, for the visage was covered; then he left off his looking and heard his service. And when it came to the sacring, he that lay within that parclose dressed him up, and uncovered his head; and then him beseemed a passing old man, and he had a crown of gold upon his head"

     (please add an English translation of this quote)

• polacres

parclose f (oblique plural parcloses, nominative singular parclose, nominative plural parcloses)

1. end; finish

• → English: parclose