The Definition of abat jour

a·bat-jour /ˌɑbɑˈʒʊər; Fr. abaˈʒur/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ah-bah-zhoor; Fr. a-ba-zhoor] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -jours /-ˈʒʊərz; Fr. -ˈʒur/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[-zhoorz; Fr. -zhoor] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation. 1. a device, as a skylight or reflector, for diverting light into a building.
2. a sloping screen for cutting off the view between an interior or porch and a lower area in front of a building.


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[Origin: 1820–30; < F: lit., it throws down (abat) the daylight (jour). See abate, journey]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.