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]
Of how short durance was this new-made
state!
Dryden.
2. Imprisonment; restraint of the person;
custody by a jailer; duress. Shak. "Durance
vile." Burns.
In durance, exile, Bedlam or the
mint.
Pope.
3. (a) A stout cloth stuff,
formerly made in imitation of buff leather and used for garments; a
sort of tammy or everlasting.
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.