window (n.)

13世纪, 字面意思是“风眼”, 来自古北欧语 vindauga, 源于 vindr “风” (见 wind (n. 1) ). + auga “eye” (来自PIE根 *okw- “看” ). 取代古英语 eagþyrl, 字面意思是“眼孔”, eagduru, 字面意思是“眼门”. 比较古弗里斯兰语 andern “窗”, 字面意思是“呼吸门”.

最初是屋顶上的一个无玻璃的洞. 大多数日耳曼语言后来采用了拉丁文 fenestra 的版本来描述玻璃版本(如德语 Fenster, 瑞典语 fönster), 而英语在16世纪中期之前一直使用 fenester 作为平行词.

Window dressing 在提到商店橱窗时, 从1853年开始记录; 形象化的意义是到1898年. Window seat 从1778年开始有证. Window of opportunity (1979) 是来自于更早的美国太空计划中的形象化使用, 如 launch window (1963). Window-shopping 是从1904年开始记录的.

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]