clerestory
or clear·sto·ry
[kleer-stawr-ee, -stohr-ee]
- 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.
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Origin of clerestory
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for clerestory
Contemporary Examples
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 ShowRobert W. Chambers
February 20, 2014
Historical Examples
As far up as the clerestory every wall was frescoed, and every timber of the roof was gilded.
The ChristianHall Caine
It had no triforium, and the clerestory windows are rather large.
England, Picturesque and DescriptiveJoel Cook
The clerestory windows are partly concealed by the vaulting.
Bell's Cathedrals: The Abbey Church of TewkesburyH. J. L. J. Mass
The clerestory was built about 1200 by Peter, the third Prior.
Bournemouth, Poole & ChristchurchSidney Heath
The clerestory and roof of the chancel are the work of Bishop Goldwell.
A Comprehensive History of NorwichA. D. Bayne
clerestory
clearstory
- 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
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Word Origin
C15: from clear + storey
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for clerestory
n.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper