windscreen

From wind +‎ screen.

• IPA^(key): /ˈwɪn(d).skɹiːn/

• Audio (AU)

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A cross-section of an armor-piercing artillery shell, with the windscreen (sense 3) in blue.

windscreen (plural windscreens)

1. (British, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore) A transparent screen made of glass, located at the front of a vehicle in order to protect its occupants from the wind and weather.

   Oh no! A vandal has just smashed our windscreen! Susan, can you go and call the insurance company?

2. A cover for a microphone to exclude airy noises such as wind and breathing.
3. (military) A lightweight aerodynamic fairing mounted on the nose of an armor-piercing shell to reduce drag and increase range.
4. A draught screen at the side of a passenger train doorway.
   • 1951 October, “Models Assist Rolling Stock Design”, in Railway Magazine, page 647:

     As well as demonstrating operating facilities, full-size car body models are used for experimenting with new types of interior finish, systems of lighting, positioning of route diagrams and advertisements, and the best form of windscreens at doorways, and the height and location of handgrips and handrails.

• (North America) windshield

• car glass

windscreen (third-person singular simple present windscreens, present participle windscreening, simple past and past participle windscreened)

1. (transitive) To install a windscreen on.