Etymograph

English

iron curtain

From iron + curtain.

A compound of iron + curtain

Proto-Celtic *īsarnom

…

Proto-West Germanic *īsarn

Old English īsern ‘the metal iron’

Old English īren

Middle English iren ‘iron’

English iron

Late Latin cōrtīna

Old French cortine

Middle English curtine

English curtain

Today it means

noun A barrier made of iron in a theatre, lowered between the stage and the auditorium for fire safety or to prevent communication.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / iron curtain