Windshields

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A transparent panel in vehicles functions as a protective barrier against wind and debris, ensuring clear visibility for passengers while enhancing safety
2. This is a glass structure that shields occupants from weather elements and obstructs air flow, maintaining visibility while driving
3. A transparent barrier in the front of a vehicle that protects the driver and passengers from external elements while providing an unobstructed view of the road ahead

Etymology: "Windshields" is the plural of "windshield," a compound formed from "wind" and "shield." The first element descends from Old English "wind," which goes back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning the moving air itself. The second, "shield," is the older and more familiar part: a protective barrier that has been used against blows and missiles for centuries. Put together, the compound describes a shield against the wind, which is a plain and literal name for what the glass does on a moving vehicle. The plural simply counts several such panes, whether on a fleet of cars or across a single vehicle's front and rear.

Synonyms: windscreens, glass shields