TED-ED: Mysteries of vernacular: Window - Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel

The video explores the etymology and evolution of the word 'window', tracing its roots back to the Scandinavian settlers who brought the Old Norse word 'vindauga' to England. 'Vindauga' is a compound of 'vind' (wind) and 'auga' (eye), reflecting a time before glass windows. The video also discusses the literary device 'kenning', popular in Norse and Old English, which uses metaphorical compounds like 'wave steed' for ship. Finally, it highlights how 'window' has evolved to include metaphorical uses, such as 'window of opportunity'.

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