clerestory

Clerestory — • A term formerly applied to any window or traceried opening in a church, e. g. in an aisle, tower, cloister, or screen, but now restricted to the windows in an aisled nave, or to the range of wall in which the high windows are set Catholic… …   Catholic encyclopedia

Clerestory — Clere sto ry (kl[=e]r st[=o] r[y^]), n. Same as {Clearstory}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

clerestory — early 15c., probably from clere clear, in a sense light, lighted (see CLEAR (Cf. clear)), and STORY (Cf. story), though this sense of that word is not otherwise found so early. Originally the upper part of the nave, transepts, and choir of a… …   Etymology dictionary

clerestory — (US also clearstory) ► NOUN (pl. clerestories) ▪ the upper part of the nave, choir, and transepts of a large church, incorporating a series of windows which admit light to the central parts of the building. ORIGIN from CLEAR(Cf. ↑clearness) +… …   English terms dictionary

clerestory — [klir′stôr΄ē] n. pl. clerestories [ME clerestorie < cler, CLEAR + storie,STORY2] the upper part of a wall, specif. of a church, containing windows for lighting the central part of a lofty room or space …   English World dictionary

Clerestory — The church of St Nicolai, Stralsund. The clerestory is the level between the two green roofs. Clerestory (   …   Wikipedia

clerestory — clerestoried, adj. /klear stawr ee, stohr ee/, n., pl. clerestories. 1. Archit. a portion of an interior rising above adjacent rooftops and having windows admitting daylight to the interior. 2. a raised construction, as on the roof of a railroad… …   Universalium

clerestory — UK [ˈklɪə(r)ˌstɔːrɪ] / UK [ˈklɪə(r)stərɪ] / US [ˈklɪrˌstɔrɪ] noun [countable] Word forms clerestory : singular clerestory plural clerestories in architecture, the upper part of the wall of a church, where there is a series of windows …   English dictionary

Clerestory — Clearstory Clear sto ry (kl[=e]r st[=o] r[y^]), Clerestory Clere sto ry, n. (Arch.) The upper story of the nave of a church, containing windows, and rising above the aisle roofs. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Clerestory —    The term refers to the row of windows in the upper part of a wall. Clerestories were used by the ancient Romans in their basilicas, baths, and other such structures to bring light into the interior. The Early Christian masters borrowed the… …   Dictionary of Renaissance art

clerestory — also clearstory noun Etymology: Middle English, from clere clear + story Date: 15th century 1. an outside wall of a room or building that rises above an adjoining roof and contains windows 2. gallery …   New Collegiate Dictionary