What does windowsill mean?
Windowsill is a common English noun for the horizontal ledge or shelf running along the bottom of a window opening. It is the part where the window's frame meets the wall, and in many homes it serves as a convenient surface for potted plants, books, or other small objects. The word is normally written as one word, although “window sill” is also a standard spelling and may appear in edited or formal material. Windowsills can vary in design: some project into the room, while others are flush with the surrounding wall, and they may be made of wood, stone, plaster, or another building material. Although the term sounds ordinary, it names a precise architectural feature. The related word sill is broader, referring to horizontal supports or ledges generally, while windowsill identifies the specific ledge below a window. Both words are useful when describing buildings, interiors, or the placement of everyday objects.
nounA horizontal ledge or shelf at the bottom of a window opening, typically extending into the room. It forms part of the window's frame and can provide a surface for objects.
- The horizontal ledge or shelf at the bottom of a window opening.
"She placed a small pot of herbs on the windowsill beside the glass."
"Rain streaked the window while a cat slept on the warm windowsill."
"The old stone windowsill had been worn smooth by generations of hands."
The regular plural is “windowsills,” used when referring to the ledges of several windows.
"Freshly painted windowsills brightened the old apartment."
A windowsill is where a window becomes furniture: a narrow ledge that can hold everything from a flowerpot to a cup of tea.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does windowsill come from?
The word is a compound of “window” and “sill.” “Window” derives from Old Norse vindauga, literally “wind-eye,” while “sill” comes from Old English sille and refers to a horizontal support or ledge. The compound developed as a name for the horizontal member or ledge beneath a window opening.
Related word forms
How windowsill is actually used
Standard in general English. “Windowsill” and “window sill” are both accepted spellings, although editorial styles differ; the term is not regionally restricted.
Easily confused with windowsill
A sill is any horizontal ledge or supporting member, whereas a windowsill is specifically the ledge at the bottom of a window opening.