vasistas

French

FWOTD – 10 January 2013

Etymology

Attested since 1760, and early on spelled wass-ist-dass (in occurrences from 1770 and 1776), from German was ist das? (literally “what is that?”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /va.zis.tas/, /va.zis.tɑs/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

vasistas m (plural vasistas)

1. transom window (window above a door or another window)
   • 1938, Francis Carco, L’Homme de Minuit:

     Jim manœuvra le cordon d’un vasistas, mais l’ouverture donnait sur la loge de Gaby Million où la vedette avait laissé ses chiens. Les bêtes se mirent à aboyer.

     Jim maneuvered a rope from the transom, but the opening overlooked the lodge where the star Gaby Million had left her dogs. The creatures began to bark.

2. fortochka (small ventilation window)

Descendants

• → Italian: vasistas
• → Turkish: vasistas

Turkish

Etymology

From French vasistas, from German was ist das? (literally “what is that?”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /vasisˈtas/

Noun

vasistas (definite accusative vasistası, plural vasistaslar)

1. transom window (window above a door or another window)
2. bottom hung window, trap window
3. fortochka (small ventilation window)

Further reading

• “vasistas”, in Turkish dictionaries, Türk Dil Kurumu