noun
- Plural of purda; a screen or curtain used in some South Asian households to seclude women from public view or from men outside the family.
Usage: Also spelled 'purdah' (singular) or 'purdahs' (plural); cultural practice primarily in South Asia; The term can refer both to the physical screen and to the social practice of female seclusion
Examples
- In traditional households, purdas were hung to maintain privacy and separation.
- The practice of using purdas has declined in many modern urban areas.
- Historical accounts describe elaborate purdas made of fine fabrics in wealthy homes.
- Some families still observe customs related to purdas for religious or cultural reasons.
- The museum exhibit displayed traditional purdas from the 19th century.