Adjacent Words

Transom definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

TRAN'SOM, n. [L. transenna, from trans, over, across.]
1. A beam or timber extended across the stern-post of a ship, to strengthen the aft-part and give it due form.
2. In architecture, the piece that is framed across a double light window; or a lintel over a door; the vane of a cross-staff.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a window above a door that is usually hinged to a horizontal crosspiece over the door [syn: transom, transom window, fanlight]
2: a horizontal crosspiece across a window or separating a door from a window over it [syn: transom, traverse]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English transyn, traunsom, probably alteration of traversayn, from Middle French travessain, from Old French traversain set crosswise, from Vulgar Latin *traversanus, from Latin transversus transverse Date: 14th century 1. a transverse piece in a structure ; crosspiece: as a. lintel b. a horizontal crossbar in a window, over a door, or between a door and a window or fanlight above it c. the horizontal bar or member of a cross or gallows d. any of several transverse timbers or beams secured to the sternpost of a boat; also the planking forming the stern of a square-ended boat 2. a window above a door or other window built on and commonly hinged to a transom

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a horizontal bar of wood or stone across a window or the top of a door (cf. MULLION). 2 each of several beams fixed across the stern-post of a ship. 3 a beam across a saw-pit to support a log. 4 a strengthening crossbar. 5 US = transom window . Phrases and idioms: transom window 1 a window divided by a transom. 2 a window placed above the transom of a door or larger window; a fanlight. Derivatives: transomed adj. Etymology: ME traversayn, transyn, -ing, f. OF traversin f. traverse TRAVERSE

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Transom Tran"som, n. [Probably fr. L. transtrum a crossbeam, transom, from trans across. Cf. Trestle.] 1. (Arch.) A horizontal crossbar in a window, over a door, or between a door and a window above it. Transom is the horizontal, as mullion is the vertical, bar across an opening. See Illust. of Mullion. 2. (Naut.) One of the principal transverse timbers of the stern, bolted to the sternpost and giving shape to the stern structure; -- called also transsummer. 3. (Gun.) The piece of wood or iron connecting the cheeks of some gun carriages. 4. (Surg.) The vane of a cross-staff. --Chambers. 5. (Railroad) One of the crossbeams connecting the side frames of a truck with each other. Transom knees (Shipbuilding), knees bolted to the transoms and after timbers. Transom window. (Arch.) (a) A window divided horizontally by a transom or transoms. (b) A window over a door, with a transom between.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Transsummer.

Moby Thesaurus

air duct, air hole, air passage, air shaft, air tube, airway, bay, bay window, blowhole, bow window, breathing hole, casement, casement window, cross bitt, crossarm, crossbar, crosspiece, doubletree, fan window, fanlight, grille, lancet window, lantern, lattice, light, louver, louver window, louverwork, naris, nostril, oriel, pane, picture window, port, porthole, rose window, shaft, singletree, skylight, spilehole, spiracle, swingletree, touchhole, transept, transversal, transverse, traverse, vent, ventage, venthole, ventiduct, ventilating shaft, ventilator, whippletree, wicket, wind tunnel, window, window bay, window glass, windowpane