Durance

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Durance \Dur"ance\, n. [OF. durance duration, fr. L. durans,
     -antis, p. pr. durare to endure, last. See {Dure}, and cf.
     {Durant}.]
     1. Continuance; duration. See {Endurance}. [Archaic]
        [1913 Webster]
  


              Of how short durance was this new-made state!
                                                    --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Imprisonment; restraint of the person; custody by a
        jailer; duress. Shak. "Durance vile." --Burns.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              In durance, exile, Bedlam or the mint. --Pope.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3.
        (a) A stout cloth stuff, formerly made in imitation of
            buff leather and used for garments; a sort of tammy or
            everlasting.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  Where didst thou buy this buff? let me not live
                  but I will give thee a good suit of durance.
                                                    --J. Webster.
        (b) In modern manufacture, a worsted of one color used for
            window blinds and similar purposes.
            [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  durance
       n : imprisonment (especially for a long time)