window shell

Window \Win"dow\, n. [OE. windowe, windoge, Icel. vindauga
   window, properly, wind eye; akin to Dan. vindue. ????. See
   {Wind}, n., and {Eye}.]
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   1. An opening in the wall of a building for the admission of
      light and air, usually closed by casements or sashes
      containing some transparent material, as glass, and
      capable of being opened and shut at pleasure.
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            I leaped from the window of the citadel. --Shak.
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            Then to come, in spite of sorrow,
            And at my window bid good morrow.     --Milton.
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   2. (Arch.) The shutter, casement, sash with its fittings, or
      other framework, which closes a window opening.
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   3. A figure formed of lines crossing each other. [R.]
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            Till he has windows on his bread and butter. --King.
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   4. a period of time in which some activity may be uniquely
      possible, more easily accomplished, or more likely to
      succeed; as, a launch window for a mission to Mars.
      [PJC]

   5. (Computers) a region on a computer display screen which
      represents a separate computational process, controlled
      more or less independently from the remaining part of the
      screen, and having widely varying functions, from simply
      displaying information to comprising a separate conceptual
      screen in which output can be visualized, input can be
      controlled, program dialogs may be accomplished, and a
      program may be controlled independently of any other
      processes occurring in the computer. The window may have a
      fixed location and size, or (as in modern Graphical User
      Interfaces) may have its size and location on the screen
      under the control of the operator.
      [PJC]
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   {French window} (Arch.), a casement window in two folds,
      usually reaching to the floor; -- called also {French
      casement}.

   {Window back} (Arch.), the inside face of the low, and
      usually thin, piece of wall between the window sill and
      the floor below.

   {Window blind}, a blind or shade for a window.

   {Window bole}, part of a window closed by a shutter which can
      be opened at will. [Scot.]

   {Window box}, one of the hollows in the sides of a window
      frame for the weights which counterbalance a lifting sash.
      

   {Window frame}, the frame of a window which receives and
      holds the sashes or casement.

   {Window glass}, panes of glass for windows; the kind of glass
      used in windows.

   {Window martin} (Zool.), the common European martin. [Prov.
      Eng.]

   {Window oyster} (Zool.), a marine bivalve shell ({Placuna
      placenta}) native of the East Indies and China. Its valves
      are very broad, thin, and translucent, and are said to
      have been used formerly in place of glass.

   {Window pane}.
      (a) (Arch.) See {Pane}, n., 3
      (b) .
      (b) (Zool.) See {Windowpane}, in the Vocabulary.

   {Window sash}, the sash, or light frame, in which panes of
      glass are set for windows.

   {Window seat}, a seat arranged in the recess of a window. See
      {Window stool}, under {Stool}.

   {Window shade}, a shade or blind for a window; usually, one
      that is hung on a roller.

   {Window shell} (Zool.), the window oyster.

   {Window shutter}, a shutter or blind used to close or darken
      windows.

   {Window sill} (Arch.), the flat piece of wood, stone, or the
      like, at the bottom of a window frame.

   {Window swallow} (Zool.), the common European martin. [Prov.
      Eng.]

   {Window tax}, a tax or duty formerly levied on all windows,
      or openings for light, above the number of eight in houses
      standing in cities or towns. [Eng.]
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