window: [13] A window is etymologically a ‘wind-eye’ – that is, an ‘eye’-like opening for admitting the air. The word was borrowed from Old Norse vindauga, a compound noun formed from vindr ‘wind’ and auga ‘eye’. Danish vindue is descended from the Old Norse form, which was also taken over by Irish as fuinneog. => eye, wind
window (n.)
c. 1200, literally "wind eye," from Old Norse vindauga, from vindr "wind" (see wind (n.1)) + auga "eye" (see eye (n.)). Replaced Old English eagþyrl, literally "eye-hole," and eagduru, literally "eye-door."
Originally an unglazed hole in a roof, most Germanic languages adopted a version of Latin fenestra to describe the glass version (such as German Fenster, Swedish fönster), and English used fenester as a parallel word till mid-16c. Window dressing is first recorded 1790; figurative sense is from 1898. Window seat is attested from 1778. Window of opportunity (1979) is from earlier figurative use in U.S. space program, such as launch window (1963). Window-shopping is recorded from 1904.
"Window shopping, according to the women, is the king of outdoor sports. Whenever a woman gets down town and has 2 or 3 hours and no money to spend, she goes window shopping. She gives the Poiret gowns and the thousand dollar furs the double O and then kids herself into believing she'd look like Lillian Russell or Beverly Bayne if she had 'em on. It's great for developing the imagination and one of the great secrets of conserving the bankroll. ..." ["Motor Age," Jan. 27, 1916]
双语例句
1. He sat penitently in his chair by the window.
他懊悔地坐在靠窗的椅子上。
来自柯林斯例句
2. She had been sitting with her knitting at her fourth-floor window.
她那时正坐在5楼的窗前织东西。
来自柯林斯例句
3. She stared dreamily out of the small window at the blue horizon.
她出神地看着小窗子外面的蓝色地平线。
来自柯林斯例句
4. He had all the window frames in the room remade.
他把房间里所有的窗框都翻新了。
来自柯林斯例句
5. If a stranger stops you, just wind the window down a fraction.
