[F. coulisse, subst. use of fem. of coulis, in OF. couleïs = Pr. coladitz flowing:—L. type *cōlātīcius, f. cōlāre in Romanic to flow.]
1. A groove or channel in which a sluice-gate or movable partition slides up and down.
1864. Webster, Coulisse, a piece of timber having a groove in which something glides.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., Coulisse, a grooved piece of timber. A pair of battens, or a groove in which a sluice-gate moves up and down.
2. One of the side scenes of the stage in a theater; also the space between them, the wings.
1819. H. Busk, Vestriad, V. 81. And whistling through the long coulisses roar With blustering threats behind the side stage door.
1868. E. Yates, Rock Ahead, II. i. The gossip of the coulisses.
fig. 1856. Sat. Rev., II. 265/1. Those experienced in the coulisses of the political and religious world.
