jalousie

[ jal-uh-seeor, especially British, zhal-oo-zee ]

noun

1. a blind or shutter made with horizontal slats that can be adjusted to admit light and air but exclude rain and the rays of the sun.
2. a window made of glass slats or louvers of a similar nature.

jalousie

/ ˈʒælʊˌziː /

noun

1. a window blind or shutter constructed from angled slats of wood, plastic, etc
2. a window made of similarly angled slats of glass

Other Words From

• jalou·sied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of jalousie¹

1585–95; < French < Italian gelosia jealousy; so called because such blinds afford a view while hiding the viewer

Word History and Origins

Origin of jalousie¹

C19: from Old French gelosie latticework screen, literally: jealousy , perhaps because one can look through the screen without being seen

Example Sentences

Her family’s home lacked air conditioning, but they didn’t need it: their jalousie windows let in the sea breeze.

From Washington Post

“I replaced it with a traditional wooden double-hung window. That window wasn’t bad, but all the other windows had been replaced by jalousie windows, probably in the ‘60s, that really doesn’t go with the style of the house.

From Los Angeles Times

“I replaced it with a traditional wooden double-hung window. That window wasn’t bad, but all the other windows had been replaced by jalousie windows, probably in the ‘60s, that really doesn’t go with the style of the house.

From Los Angeles Times

I’m replacing the old jalousie windows with full-length screens and putting in a beadboard ceiling.

From Seattle Times

Sunlight is streaming in through the jalousie windows.

From Literature

Related Words

• decoration
• drape
• drapery
• screen
• shade
• shroud
• shutter
• veil