window

Where does the word "window" come from? It comes from Old Norse vindauga, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).

Window’s story begins in Old Norse: vindauga meant “wind eye.” Literally wind eye, an opening in a wall for air and light. It reached English by 1200s as window. Settled as the English word for a glazed opening in a wall. Today, window means an opening in a wall fitted with glass to admit light and air.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval vindauga "wind eye", literally wind eye, an opening in a wall for air and light.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1200s window "an opening in a wall fitted with glass", settled as the English word for a glazed opening in a wall.