sidelight

[ sahyd-lahyt ]

/ ˈsaɪdˌlaɪt /

noun

an item of incidental information.

either of two lights carried by a vessel under way at night, a red one on the port side and a green on the starboard.

light coming from the side.

a window or other aperture for light in the side of a building, ship, etc.

a window at the side of a door or another window.

Words nearby sidelight

sidecheck, sided, sidehead, sidehill, sidekick, sidelight, sideline, sideliner, sidelines, sideling, sideload

Origin of sidelight

First recorded in 1600–10; side¹ + light¹

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

Examples from the Web for sidelight

A callous and utterly botched effort, but even if just a sidelight to this execution, it fits the execution like a favorite glove.
India’s Twisted Conscience on Terrorism|Dilip D’Souza|February 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
As a(nother) sidelight, it's clear that Romney or whoever wrote this piece doesn't actually understand what culture even is.
Romney and Culture: Flip-Flop-Flip!|Michael Tomasky|August 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
His eyes looked sunken thus closed, in the sidelight from the carriage-window.
Shadows of Flames|Amelie Rives
Except as a sidelight on the character of the early Greek trader the story is worthless.
The Religion of Numa|Jesse Benedict Carter

He glanced through the sidelight of the front door, carelessly.
The Moonlit Way|Robert W. Chambers
The medical opinions of Cato throw a sidelight upon the state of medicine in his time.
Outlines of Greek and Roman Medicine|James Sands Elliott
"I see," said Bob, vastly amused at this sidelight on the family reputation.
The Rules of the Game|Stewart Edward White

British Dictionary definitions for sidelight

sidelight

/ (ˈsaɪdˌlaɪt) /

noun

light coming from the side

a side window

either of the two navigational running lights used by vessels at night, a red light on the port and a green on the starboard

British either of two small lights on the front of a motor vehicle, used to indicate the presence of the vehicle at night rather than to assist the driver

additional or incidental information

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