Window back

Window Win"dow, n. [OE. windowe, windoge, Icel. vindauga window, properly, wind eye; akin to Dan. vindue. ????. See {Wind}, n., and {Eye}.] [1913 Webster] 1. An opening in the wall of a building for the admission of light and air, usually closed by casements or sashes containing some transparent material, as glass, and capable of being opened and shut at pleasure. [1913 Webster]

I leaped from the window of the citadel. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Then to come, in spite of sorrow, And at my window bid good morrow. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. (Arch.) The shutter, casement, sash with its fittings, or other framework, which closes a window opening. [1913 Webster]

3. A figure formed of lines crossing each other. [R.] [1913 Webster]

Till he has windows on his bread and butter. --King. [1913 Webster]

4. a period of time in which some activity may be uniquely possible, more easily accomplished, or more likely to succeed; as, a launch window for a mission to Mars. [PJC]

5. (Computers) a region on a computer display screen which represents a separate computational process, controlled more or less independently from the remaining part of the screen, and having widely varying functions, from simply displaying information to comprising a separate conceptual screen in which output can be visualized, input can be controlled, program dialogs may be accomplished, and a program may be controlled independently of any other processes occurring in the computer. The window may have a fixed location and size, or (as in modern Graphical User Interfaces) may have its size and location on the screen under the control of the operator. [PJC]

{French window} (Arch.), a casement window in two folds, usually reaching to the floor; -- called also {French casement}.

{Window back} (Arch.), the inside face of the low, and usually thin, piece of wall between the window sill and the floor below.

{Window blind}, a blind or shade for a window.

{Window bole}, part of a window closed by a shutter which can be opened at will. [Scot.]

{Window box}, one of the hollows in the sides of a window frame for the weights which counterbalance a lifting sash.

{Window frame}, the frame of a window which receives and holds the sashes or casement.

{Window glass}, panes of glass for windows; the kind of glass used in windows.

{Window martin} (Zo["o]l.), the common European martin. [Prov. Eng.]

{Window oyster} (Zo["o]l.), a marine bivalve shell ({Placuna placenta}) native of the East Indies and China. Its valves are very broad, thin, and translucent, and are said to have been used formerly in place of glass.

{Window pane}. (a) (Arch.) See {Pane}, n., 3 (b) . (b) (Zo["o]l.) See {Windowpane}, in the Vocabulary.

{Window sash}, the sash, or light frame, in which panes of glass are set for windows.

{Window seat}, a seat arranged in the recess of a window. See {Window stool}, under {Stool}.

{Window shade}, a shade or blind for a window; usually, one that is hung on a roller.

{Window shell} (Zo["o]l.), the window oyster.

{Window shutter}, a shutter or blind used to close or darken windows.

{Window sill} (Arch.), the flat piece of wood, stone, or the like, at the bottom of a window frame.

{Window swallow} (Zo["o]l.), the common European martin. [Prov. Eng.]

{Window tax}, a tax or duty formerly levied on all windows, or openings for light, above the number of eight in houses standing in cities or towns. [Eng.] [1913 Webster]