French edit

Etymology edit

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?).[1][2]

Pronunciation edit

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

Noun edit

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 edit

  • Italian: vasistas
  • Turkish: vasistas

References edit

  1. ^ vasistas”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
  2. ^ Grammarphobia blog: vasistas

Turkish edit

Etymology edit

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

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

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 edit

  • vasistas”, in Turkish dictionaries, Türk Dil Kurumu