noun

transom

/ˈtrænzəm/ · say it: TRAN·zum

a crossbar above a door, often with a window above it

In Architecture & Design

In more detail

1. (noun) a horizontal bar or beam that crosses a window or door, dividing it into sections

2. (noun) a window above a door or another window, typically hinged to open and close

3. (noun) the flat surface at the stern (back) of a ship or boat

Examples

1. Light streamed through the transom above the front door.
2. He opened the transom to let fresh air into the hallway.
3. The transom of the boat was reinforced to support the outboard motor.

How to use transom

Transom is primarily an architectural or nautical term used in formal or technical contexts. In architecture, it refers to a horizontal structural element or the small hinged window above doors common in older buildings. In nautical contexts, it describes the stern's flat rear section of a vessel. The term is less common in everyday conversation and appears more frequently in historical descriptions or technical documentation.

Common phrases

transom window
transom light
above the transom
transom bar
ship transom
transom hinge

Synonyms

crossbar · lintel · fanlight

Word family

transomed (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse transom with a full window or door rather than understanding it as specifically the horizontal dividing element or the smaller upper window section.

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