louver

The story

1. Frankish · derived from*laubijā“shelter”
2. Medieval Latin · derived from*lōdārium
3. Old French · derived fromlovier
4. Middle English · inherited fromlover
5. English todaylouver

Inherited from Middle English lover, from Old French lovier, lover (“skylight”), from Medieval Latin *lōdārium (attested as lōvārium), extension of lōdium, of unclear origin, but probably of Germanic origin and related to Frankish *laubijā (“shelter”). Compare Old Norse ljóri.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. A type of turret on the roof of certain medieval buildings designed to allow ventilation or the admission of light.
• from 16th c. A series of sloping overlapping slats or boards which admit air and light but exclude rain etc.