Can someone tell me the "technical" name for the opening vent widows that used to be used over doorways?

Question

I remember seeing these above the doorways in Hotel Conneaut, a Hotel that was built around 1905. It had a long brass lever that opened up the window horizontally. I'm guessing it had a specific name, other than vent window...

Answer 1

Transom
From Wikipedia

Transom (probably a corruption of Latin transtrum, a thwart, in a boat; equivalents are French traverse, croisillon, German Losholz) is the architectural term given to the horizontal lintel or beam which is framed across a window, dividing it into stages or heights. In early Gothic ecclesiastical work transoms are only found in belfry unglazed windows or spire lights, where they were deemed necessary to strengthen the mullions in the absence of the iron stay bars, which in glazed windows served a similar purpose. In domestic work, on account of the opening casements, they are more frequently found. In the later Gothic, and more especially the Perpendicular period, the introduction of transoms became very general in windows of all kinds.

Transom is the customary U. S. word for a window over a door, hinged at the top or bottom edge, and capable of being opened for ventilation. In England, a transom is usually referred to as a fanlight, and occasionally as an "overlight", or by the French word "vasistas". The word "fanlight" derives from the fan-like shape of early transoms, which became a traditional part of the Georgian style. The French term is phonetically similar to German phrase "was ist das?" ("what is that?"). Hence folk etymology ascribes its origin to German chambermaids in France.

The phrase "over the transom" refers to works submitted for publication without being solicited; the image invoked being that of a writer tossing a manuscript through the open window over the door of the publisher's office.

A Japanese Transom is referred to as a Ranma.


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In naval architecture, a transom is a vertical (or near-vertical) flat or flattish surface that forms the stern of a vessel. On smaller vessels where an outboard motor is the source of propulsion, the motor is usually mounted on the transom, and held in place either by clamps or metal bolts that go through the transom. In this arrangement all the power of the motor is transmitted via the transom to the rest of the vessel's structure, making it a very important part of the vessel's construction.

Answer 2

They are called transoms. See link below for definitions from several sources. Just scroll down the page. I remember those windows very well from my school days, lol!

Answer 3

Transom window. (Arch.) (a) A window divided horizontally by a transom or transoms. (b) A window over a door, with a transom between.

Answer 4

any window or fixed glass over another opening is a transom. it can be fixed( does not open) or it can be louvered( slats that open ) or it can be a jowliest window or a casement. transoms can be over windows and or doors or any opening. there r also interior transoms.


lic. gen. contractor

Answer 5

It's transom. They used to be a good way to eavesdrop on people :-)

Answer 6

these windows are called transoms .some are fixed glass and some swing up.

Answer 7

They were called Transoms. Don't know why, but that's what they called them.

Answer 8

transom(sp?)