sash

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈsash

: a band worn about the waist or over one shoulder and used as a dress accessory or the emblem of an honorary or military order

sashed

ˈsasht

adjective

sash

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural sash also sashes

: the framework in which panes of glass are set in a window or door

also : such a framework together with its panes forming a usually movable part of a window

Examples of sash in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

His twin daughters wore white dresses with an emerald sash. —

Sadiba Hasan, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2023 The star of the painting is the guard’s captain, Michiel de Wael, who wears a yellow jerkin with an icy-blue sash in the foreground. —

Zachary Fine, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2023 Behind her came an impressive formation of church and municipal leaders with satin sashes across their breasts. —

Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023 With his long hair and beard, Crawford appeared to be invoking Jesus in his court appearance, aided by his long flowing white robe, brocaded sash and open sandals. —

Rory Feehan, SPIN, 9 Nov. 2023 He was fitted out in a long shift top with his chest on display, a red sash around his waist and three sword holders hanging from a belt. —

Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 1 Nov. 2023 And this Van Cortlandt Singlet, with its iconic sash panel, is designed for both short jogs and intense long runs alike. —

Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 1 Aug. 2023 The guests looked for the nearest bed, blocked the doors with window sashes, towels and pillows and hid underneath the covers. —

Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2023 For the kind of hopeful young women who once packed their sashes in their valises and got on the bus to come to Hollywood, only to find a hundred other small-town beauty queens already here, a pageant crown no longer has to be their only onramp to mobility and even cinema celebrity. —

Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sash.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

by dissimilation from earlier shash, borrowed from Arabic shāsh "muslin"

Noun (2)

probably by dissimilation from synonymous shash, back-formation from shashes (taken as plural), apparently variant of chasses (attested later), borrowed from French châssis "frame holding window glass" — more at chassis

Note: Any sorting of the derivational succession must be speculative, because shashes, sashes and sash window are all attested within a few years of each other, and chasses, chassis—more closely approximating French—a decade later. It is likely that these words circulated for a considerable time before they found their way into print in the 1680's and '90's.

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1678, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1681, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of sash was circa 1678

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