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fanlight

American  
[fan-lahyt] / ˈfænˌlaɪt /

noun

  1. a window over a door or another window, especially one having the form of a semicircle or of half an ellipse.


fanlight British  
/ ˈfænˌlaɪt /

noun

  1. a semicircular window over a door or window, often having sash bars like the ribs of a fan

  2. US name: transom.  a small rectangular window over a door

  3. another name for skylight

"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

Etymology

Origin of fanlight

First recorded in 1835–45; fan 1 + light 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

We stopped in front of the heavy wooden door, whose stained-glass fanlight formed a grinning skull and crossbones.

From Literature

We could tell it was Federal style by the symmetrical design with porticos supported by Ionic columns, fanlights over the doors and keystone lintels.

From Washington Post

An arched entrance to the house has a fanlight in a delicately ornamented keystone surround.

From Washington Post

A colonnade, parapet wall and fanlight windows tie the new building to the look and feel of the White House.

From Seattle Times

A colonnade, parapet wall and fanlight windows tie the new building to the look and feel of the White House.

From Washington Times