purdah

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

purdah
    n 1: a state of social isolation [syn: {solitude}, {purdah}]
    2: the traditional Hindu or Muslim system of keeping women
       secluded [syn: {purdah}, {sex segregation}]
    3: a screen used in India to separate women from men or
       strangers

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Purdah \Pur"dah\, n. [Per. parda a curtain.]
   A curtain or screen; also, a cotton fabric in blue and white
   stripes, used for curtains. --McElrath.
   [1913 Webster]

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