fanlight

American  

[fan-lahyt] / ˈfænˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a window over a door or another window, especially one having the form of a semicircle or of half an ellipse.

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fanlight British  

/ ˈfænˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a semicircular window over a door or window, often having sash bars like the ribs of a fan

2. US name: transom.  a small rectangular window over a door

3. another name for skylight

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Etymology

Origin of fanlight

First recorded in 1835–45; fan ¹ + light ¹

Example Sentences

Glancing up, you notice a fragile Georgian fanlight, or a warm scoop of terracotta tiling, or a glint of coloured glass.

From The Guardian • Sep. 19, 2014

Glancing up, you notice a fragile Georgian fanlight, or a warm scoop of terra-cotta tiling, or a glint of colored glass.

From New York Times • Sep. 19, 2014

The attic room had no window on the front, so she pounded down the back staircase two flights to the fanlight that looked out over the drive.

From Nature • Apr. 10, 2013

The graceful fanlight that once was part of the vestibule was moved to the end of the grand entrance hall, past the archway that came from the Francis Scott Key house on M Street.

From Washington Post

The indirect afternoon light, reflected from the gravel and filtered through the fanlight, filled the entrance hall with the yellowish-orange tones of a sepia print.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan