A roof structure with angled slats designed to allow air circulation while keeping out rain, or the angled slats themselves used in windows, doors, and vents.
From Old French 'l'ouvert' meaning 'the opening'. The architectural feature was named for its function of providing controlled openings. The famous Louvre Palace in Paris may derive from the same root, possibly referring to a wolf-hunting lodge ('louveterie').
Louvres are brilliant examples of form following function - those angled slats solve the ancient problem of wanting fresh air without letting in rain. The same principle appears in everything from medieval church bells towers to modern air conditioning vents.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.