Where Did the Word Window Come From and What Did “Window” Mean Originally?

Early Norse homes were simply designed and often included a stable area for livestock under the same roof as the humans.

In the winter, because the tightly shut doors trapped stale air and smoke from the indoor fires, they built holes high on the walls and in the roof for ventilation.

They called these openings vindr auga, which means “the wind’s eye.”

When the British copied this practice they modified “wind’s eye” to window.