Dôrse, n.

n. [O. Fr. ders, derselet, A-N. dorsal, I. Lat. dorsale, tapestry, so called because it is behind the back of one sitting down, dorsarium, dorserium, equivalent to dorsale, from Lat. dorsum, the back.] [Obs.]

1. A canopy. See DOSEL. Sutton.
2. The back of a book. “A choice library of books, all richly bound, with gilt dorses.” Wood.