pane

noun

: a piece, section, or side of something: such as
a
: a framed sheet of glass in a window or door
frost on a window pane
b
: one of the sections into which a sheet of postage stamps is cut for distribution
paned adjective
paneless adjective

Examples of pane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Inspiring spiritual imagery abounds, but look closely to spy a VW Beetle hidden in one of the panes. Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026 The robot version is 2-D, hanging like a pane of glass across the middle of the plate. Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026 TurboTax displays this text in a vertical pane on the right that doesn’t obscure the screen, and now FreeTaxUSA does, too. Kathy Yakal, PC Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026 The show uses oil-on-canvas matte paintings, paintbrush strokes on glass panes, and even live-action, practical models for some of the spaceships. Rafael Motamayor, IndieWire, 6 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pane

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pane, pan, payne, peyne "panel of an ornamental hanging or a curtain, side of a building, section of a wall, windowpane," borrowed from Anglo-French pan, pane "piece of cloth, tail of a shirt, skirt of a coat, parcel, stretch, territory" (also continental Old & Middle French), going back to Latin pannus "piece of cloth, rag" — more at vane

Note: Homonymous with Middle English pane in these senses is pane "cloak, mantle, fur lining or trim of a garment, rich fur or fabric," borrowed from Anglo-French and Old French penne, panne in these senses. Middle English Dictionary groups these with all the other senses of panne, but the Oxford English Dictionary and Anglo-Norman Dictionary treat them separately, as descended from Latin pinna "feather" (see pen entry 3), reflecting a calque of Old High German fedara, meaning both "feather" and "article made of fur" (or a cognate Germanic form).

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pane was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Pane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pane. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

pane

noun
1
: a piece, section, or side of something (as a sheet of glass in a window)
2
: one of the sections (as of 50 or 100 stamps) into which a sheet of postage stamps is divided

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