a jour

adjective

ä-ˈzhu̇r

variants or ajouré

¦ä-ˌzhu̇-¦rā

: pierced, cut away, or made translucent in such a way as to form a design : having figured openwork : decorated with translucent, pierced, or openwork designs

—used of carving, metalwork, lace, drawnwork, or cutwork

Word History

Etymology

a jour from French à jour, literally, toward day; ajouré from French, from ajour perforation (from à jour) + -é (from Latin -atus -ate)

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined above

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