Valance

n. [Written also valence.] [From Norm. Fr. valaunt, Fr. avalant, descending, hanging down, p. pr. of avaler, to get down, to go down with the current, or stream, s'avaler, to hang or fall down, to flag. See AVALE and VAIL.] Hanging drapery for a bed, a couch, a window, and the like; especially, that which hangs around a bedstead, from the bed to the floor. “A valance of Venice gold in needle-work.” Shak.