quarterlight
Noun: 1. A small, often triangular or roughly square, pivoting window in the door of a car: A quarterlight is a small, separate pane of glass, distinct from the main window, that can be opened by pivoting on a hinge to provide ventilation. It is typically located in the front doors of a vehicle, often near the wing mirror.
The term is used specifically in automotive contexts to describe a particular type of window design, common in older or classic cars. * The vintage car's quarterlight was stuck, so we couldn't get any fresh air. * He opened the quarterlight to let the smoke out. * Modern cars rarely feature quarterlights, having replaced them with more streamlined designs.
- Historical Feature: In automotive history, the quarterlight was a common solution for ventilation before the widespread adoption of more complex climate control systems and larger, fully retractable windows.
- Distinction from 'Vent Window': In some regions, particularly North America, this feature is more commonly called a "vent window" or "wing window." "Quarterlight" is a term more frequently used in British English.
- Vent window (n): (Primarily North American) A synonym for quarterlight.
- Wing window (n): (Primarily North American) Another synonym for quarterlight.
- Window vent (n): A general term for any small opening window used for ventilation.
Vent window, wing window.
Fixed window, sealed window.
The "quarterlight" is a distinct component from the main door window. It does not refer to the rear side windows of a car (which are sometimes called quarter windows) unless those specific windows are of the small, pivoting vent type. Its primary function is ventilation, not visibility.
- car window consisting of a small pivoted glass vent in the door of a car