brise-soleil

noun

brise-so·​leil

¦brēzsō¦lā

plural -s

: an architectural device (such as a projection, louvers, or a screen) to block off unwanted sunlight

Word History

Etymology

French, from brise (as in brise-bise) + soleil sun, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin soliculus, diminutive of Latin sol sun

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!