fenestra

American  

[fi-nes-truh] / fɪˈnɛs trə /

noun

plural

fenestrae

1. Anatomy, Zoology. a small opening or perforation, as in a bone, especially between the middle and inner ear.

2. Entomology. a transparent spot in an otherwise opaque surface, as in the wings of certain butterflies and moths.

3. Architecture. a windowlike opening.

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fenestra British  

/ fɪˈnɛstrə /

noun

1. biology a small opening in or between bones, esp one of the openings between the middle and inner ears

2. zoology a transparent marking or spot, as on the wings of moths

3. architect a window or window-like opening in the outside wall of a building

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Other Word Forms

• fenestral adjective
• unfenestral adjective

Etymology

Origin of fenestra

1820–30; < New Latin, special use of Latin fenestra window, hole (in a wall)

Example Sentences

In most meat-eating dinosaurs, a ridge of bone provides a roof over an opening in the skull in front of the eye sockets known as the antorbital fenestra.

From Scientific American • Dec. 15, 2020

The stapes, or stirrup, has its end of an oval shape, which fits a small hole called fenestra ovalis, in that part of the ear called the labyrinth, or innermost chamber of the ear.

From Popular Lectures on Zoonomia Or The Laws of Animal Life, in Health and Disease by Garnett, Thomas

Nullus habebit separatim mordacem pavulam ad evellendas spinas si forte calcaverit absque Præposito domus et secundo: pendeatque in fenestra in qua codices collocantur.

From The Care of Books by Clark, John Willis

The medial border of the orbital fenestra is missing, but apparently consisted of the pterygoid for at least the posterior half.

From A New Order of Fishlike Amphibia From the Pennsylvanian of Kansas by Eaton, Theodore H. (Theodore Hildreth)

After the prickly bark is stripped off the punk can be picked out through the fenestra with a penknife, which occupation affords pleasant pastime for a leisure hour.

From Arizona Sketches by Munk, J. A. (Joseph Amasa)