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.
Both the library and the living room are at the front of the house and offer floor to ceiling double doors with glass panes that access the front porch. James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2025 Another stamp pane, 250 Years of Delivering, offers a tour through American postal history. Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025 Embroidery that evokes denim distressing (another Who Decides War staple) is scattered throughout the upper, while the Jumpman logo is superimposed above the Who Decides War window pane logo at the heel. Riley Jones, Footwear News, 3 July 2025 The boat, a refit of a former Dutch navy frigate, was rebuilt by ADM Shipyards in the UAE and its superstructure features large panes of glass. Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 25 May 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pane. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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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