küˈlēs noun
( -s )
Etymology: French (also, groove, door, window, or partition that slides in a groove), from Old French couleïce portcullis, short for porte couleïce, literally, sliding door, from porte door + couleïce, feminine of couleïz slidable, penetrating, from couler to slide, flow — more at coulee
1.
a. : a side scene of the stage in a theater or the space between the side scenes
b. : a place behind the scenes
c. : a lobby, corridor, or other place where informal discussion is likely
2. : a piece of timber having a groove in which something glides (as an upright of a sluice)