UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: drape, curtain, veil

Semantic entry: 6.160

Semantic domains: Artifacts

Subdomains: Cloth, Leather, and Objects Made of Such Materials

Definition: a hanging of cloth over an opening

Notes: The καταπέτασμα of the Temple has been traditionally called in English a ‘veil,’ but a literal correspondence of ‘veil’ would be misleading, since it would suggest something which merely covers the face. At the same time a typical correspondence of ‘curtain’ could be misleading, since it would suggest something which covers a window. In some languages the most appropriate equivalent for καταπέτασμα in the context of RV MAT 27:51 · LV MAT 27:51 · Read together MAT 27:51 is ‘drape,’ but frequently it is necessary to use some kind of descriptive equivalent, for example, ‘a large piece of cloth hanging down from the ceiling’ or ‘a large piece of cloth covering the entrance.’

Further resources: realia:3.14.1.6