transom

noun

tran·​som ˈtran(t)-səm 

1

: a transverse piece in a structure : crosspiece: such as

a

: lintel

b

: a horizontal crossbar in a window, over a door, or between a door and a window or fanlight above it

c

: the horizontal bar or member of a cross or gallows

d

: any of several transverse timbers or beams secured to the sternpost of a boat

also : the planking forming the stern of a square-ended boat

2

or transom window : a window above a door or other window built on and commonly hinged to a transom

Illustration of transom

• T transom 2

Phrases

over the transom

: without solicitation or prior arrangement

the manuscript arrived over the transom

Examples of transom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And the apartment has nice light and prewar charm: a transom, elegant moldings. —Kim Velsey, Curbed, 29 Oct. 2024

When guests are ready for a swim, the touch of a button opens the transom, laying out a 12 square meter private beach club suspended just above the waterline. —Kathleen Turner, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024

Wendy Balas for architectural design; Walter Martin for interior design; Melissa Wilson for transom artwork; builder Calvin Burris; and Reagan Byrnes for basement refinishing. —Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 12 Sep. 2024

Plus, thanks to artificial intelligence and other tools, employers are taking a physical look at an ever-shrinking portion of resumes and cover letters that come across the transom. —Melvin Backman, Quartz, 11 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English transyn, traunsom, probably alteration of traversayn, from Middle French travessain, from Old French traversain set crosswise, from Vulgar Latin *traversanus, from Latin transversus transverse

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

transom

noun

tran·​som ˈtran(t)-səm 

1

: a horizontal crossbar in a window, over a door, or between a door and a window or fanlight above it

2

: a window above a door or other window built on and commonly hinged to a transom