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]
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Of how short durance was this new-made state!
--Dryden.
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2. Imprisonment; restraint of the person; custody by a
jailer; duress. Shak. "Durance vile." --Burns.
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In durance, exile, Bedlam or the mint. --Pope.
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3.
(a) A stout cloth stuff, formerly made in imitation of
buff leather and used for garments; a sort of tammy or
everlasting.
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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]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
durance
n : imprisonment (especially for a long time)
WordNet (r) 2.0
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