These are the many uses of the word "Window"
Primary
definition
A window is an opening in a wall, door or vehicle that allows
the passage of light and, if not closed or sealed, air and sound. E.g. it
is a screen through which customers are served in a bank, ticket office, or
similar building.
Academic uses
In computing, a window is a visual area containing some kind
of user interface, the window decoration. It usually has a rectangular shape
that can overlap with the area of other windows. It displays the output of and
may allow input to one or more processes.
In medicine, the window period for a test designed to detect
a specific disease (particularly infectious disease) is the time between first
infection and when the test can reliably detect that infection.
In geography, a tectonic window is a geologic structure formed by erosion
or normal faulting on a thrust system.
Past Uses
The window tax was a property tax based on the number of
windows in a house. It was a significant social, cultural, and architectural
force in England, France and Scotland during the 18th and 19th centuries. (Book
Source - The absurdity and injustice of the window tax - M. Humberstone, 1841)
Window Dressing - A strategy used by mutual fund and
portfolio managers near the year or quarter end to improve the appearance of
the portfolio/fund performance before presenting it to clients or shareholders.
To window dress, the fund manager will sell stocks with large losses and
purchase high flying stocks near the end of the quarter. (Book Source – Window
Dressing: The Principles of "display" - G. L. Timmins, 1831)
Present Uses
Windows - A family of operating systems for personal
computers. Windows dominates the personal computer world, running, by some
estimates, on 90% of all personal computers.
In Anne Friedberg’s 2006 book “The Virtual Window: From
Alberti to Microsoft”, she claims that “the word window has become a metaphor
for a screen” and that a screen has become a substitute for a window.
The phrase "window of time" suggests an opening
(hence window) of limited duration during which something can be accomplished.
This is commonly seen in football when related to the Transfer Window which is
a period of time in which teams can purchase, loan or sell their player(s).
Window Shopping is a term used to describe when someone goes
about looking at goods in store windows without buying anything.
“Out the window” is a metaphorical term used commonly used
when a lot of work or effort is put into something for ultimately no reason. E.g.
“All that work gone out the window because my computer crashed!”
It seems that from looking at the past and present uses of
the word “window”, it is clear that the word has always been used very broadly.
Whilst always primarily being known as the glass structures you have in your
house, it seems to have progressively (since the 1800s) obtained more and more
definitions and meanings – and used in an increasing range of manners e.g.
Window of Time, Transfer Window etc. and it has even now been used as the brand
name for one of the most successful companies of our generation – “Windows”.
