clerestory

or clear·sto·ry

[kleer-stawr-ee, -stohr-ee]

noun, plural clere·sto·ries.

Architecture. a portion of an interior rising above adjacent rooftops and having windows admitting daylight to the interior.

a raised construction, as on the roof of a railroad car, having windows or slits for admitting light or air.

Origin of clerestory

1375–1425; late Middle English, equivalent to clere clear + story story²

Related formsclere·sto·ried, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for clerestory

Contemporary Examples of clerestory

The organ gallery gets a strong white light from a row of long windows in the clerestory, which have not even coloured glass.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show
Robert W. Chambers
February 20, 2014

Historical Examples of clerestory

As far up as the clerestory every wall was frescoed, and every timber of the roof was gilded.
The Christian
Hall Caine
It had no triforium, and the clerestory windows are rather large.
England, Picturesque and Descriptive
Joel Cook
The clerestory windows are partly concealed by the vaulting.
Bell's Cathedrals: The Abbey Church of Tewkesbury
H. J. L. J. Mass
The clerestory was built about 1200 by Peter, the third Prior.
Bournemouth, Poole & Christchurch
Sidney Heath
The clerestory and roof of the chancel are the work of Bishop Goldwell.
A Comprehensive History of Norwich
A. D. Bayne

British Dictionary definitions for clerestory

clerestory

clearstory

noun plural -ries

a row of windows in the upper part of the wall of a church that divides the nave from the aisle, set above the aisle roof

the part of the wall in which these windows are setCompare blindstorey

Derived Formsclerestoried or clearstoried, adjective

Word Origin for clerestory

C15: from clear + storey

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for clerestory

early 15c., probably from clere "clear," in a sense "light, lighted" (see clear (adj.)), and story (n.2), though this sense of that word is not otherwise found so early. Originally the upper part of the nave, transepts, and choir of a large church; so called because pierced with windows. Related: Clerestorial.