Window is Norse, and it is one of the most vivid borrowings in English. Old Norse vindauga is literally "wind eye" — vindr, "wind," plus auga, "eye" — an opening in a roof that let the smoke out and the weather in.
It replaced two equally concrete Old English words, eagþyrl, "eye-hole," and eagduru, "eye-door." Old Frisian had andern, "breath-door." The Germanic peoples clearly thought of a window as a hole for air rather than a device for light, which fits, since the original was an unglazed gap in a roof. Most Germanic languages later adopted a form of Latin fenestra for glazed windows in frames — German Fenster, Swedish fönster — and English used fenester alongside window until the mid-1500s before dropping it and keeping the Viking word.
window (n.) "opening in a wall to admit air or light," c. 1200, windou , literally "wind eye," from Old Norse vindauga (Old Danish vindue ), from vindr "wind" (see wind (n.1)) + auga "eye" (from PIE root *okw- "to see"). Related: Windowed . It replaced Old English eagþyrl , literally "eye-hole," and eagduru , "eye-door." Compare Old Frisian andern "window," etymologically "breath-door." Originally in reference to an unglazed hole in a roof. Most Germanic languages later adopted a version of Latin fenestra (such as German Fenster , Swedish fönster ) for windows fitted with frames and glass, which came into extensive use 11c., and English used fenester as a parallel word till mid-16c. Window dressing in reference to shop windows is recorded from 1853; figurative sense is by 1898. Window-box for flowers or other plants is by 1852. Window seat , one by or under a window, is attested from 1778. Window of opportunity (1979) is from earlier figurative use in U.S. space program, such as launch window (1963). Window-shopping is recorded from 1904. Window shopping, according to the women, is the king of outdoor sports. Whenever a woman gets down town and has 2 or 3 hours and no money to spend, she goes window shopping. She gives the Poiret gowns and the thousand dollar furs the double O and then kids herself into believing she'd look like Lillian Russell or Beverly Bayne if she had 'em on. It's great for developing the imagination and one of the great secrets of conserving the bankroll. ... [Motor Age, Jan. 27, 1916] also from c. 1200
window came in through Old Norse, and its spelling follows that family's conventions.
What gives it away on the page
| core vocabulary that isn't Old English | Borrowing pronouns is rare and marks deep contact, not fashion.they, them, their, are, take, want, die, knife, window, law |
Placing it without the spelling
| blunt everyday things — and a few words too basic to look borrowed | Old Norsesky, knife, window, law |
Old Norse in the spelling guide · guess another word's family