Also 5 casment, 6 casemund, cazement, 7 kesment. [app. ad. med.L. casamentum, in It. casamento a building or house-frame; cf. OF. enchacement ‘cadre’; or ? of Eng. formation, from CASE sb.2 or v.2 Sense 1 is perh. a distinct word.]
1. Arch. A hollow molding, a cavetto, not exceeding a quarter-round; = CASEMATE 2.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. xi. The ryche coyning, the lusty tablementes, Uinettes ronning in casementes.
a. 1490. Botoner, in Gwilt, Archit., 928. [Names of mouldings on sketch], A cors wythoute; a casement, a bowtelle … a casement wyth Levys … a casment wyth trayler of Levys.
1660. Bloome, Archit., A a. Scotia, a hollow casement.
1677. Moxon, Mech. Exerc. (1703), 268. A Cavetto, or Casement.
1875. Gwilt, Archit., § 2531. The cavetto … By workmen it is frequently called a casement.
2. A frame or sash forming a window or part of a window, opening on hinges attached to the upright side of the frame in which it is fixed. (The usual sense.) From the early pronunciation popular etymology made a form gase- gazement.
1556. J. Heywood, Spider & Fl., xcvii. 5. Ech copweb … she full defaces: No wem seene in casemunds, nor casemund cases.
1575. Turberv., Venerie, xxxv. 91. Where casements neede not opened be.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., III. i. 57. Why then may you leaue a casement of the great chamber window open.
1595. Barnfield, Cassandra, iii. Through her light cazements cleare, He [Phœbus] stole a kisse.
1620. Venner, Via Recta, Introd. 5–6. The Easterne windowes or casements be not set open, before the Sunne hath somewhat purged the aire.
1662. J. Bargrave, Pope Alex. VII. (1867), 132. The kesment being taken away, or a pannel of glass broken.
1704. Worlidge, Dict. Rust. et Urb., s.v. Green-Houses, Some use Glass-doors, Casements, or Chases.
1722. De Foe, Plague (1884), 138. I seldom opened the Casements.
1822. W. Irving, Braceb. Hall, i. 5. When I throw open my jingling casement.
1879. Sir G. Scott, Lect. Archit., I. 229. If a window were beyond the width of a single casement, a small pillar was often interposed.
† b. App. used by Gerbier for window-frame.
1662. Gerbier, Princ., 18. Windows to be fitted in woodden Casements treble riveted, to keep out Wind and Rain. Ibid. (1663), Counsel, 95. Shutters … framed … to the witdth and height of the stone casement of the window.
c. fig. (cf. window.)
1642. R. Carpenter, Experience, VI. vii. 182. Hee that hath set the casements of his curious eyes, wide open to vanitie.
1691. Ray, Creation, II. (1692), 153 (R.). By these Casements enter in such Objects, as may provoke and stir up adulterous Thoughts in the Mind.
1696. J. Edwards, Existence & Provid. God, II. 29. The clear and pellucid casements of the body to let light in.
3. † a. ? = CASE sb.2 1. Obs.
1668. Lanc. Wills (1884), 165. I give to my Grand-child … one great Cupboard and a little one wch wee call a casement.
b. Casing, covering.
1689. Swift, Ode to Temple. Some (’tis said) for their defence Have worn a casement o’er their skin.
1862. Lytton, Str. Story, 13. The mailed knight … in his casement of iron.
4. Fortif. ? Corruption of CASEMATE.
1772. Simes, Mil. Guide, Casement, is a bomb-proof work made under the rampart.
5. attrib.
1789. Mrs. Piozzi, Journ. France, II. 120. We have got the little casement windows clean.
1805. Wordsw., Waggoner, I. 76. Those casement panes.
Hence Casemented a., furnished with casements.
1841. Hor. Smith, Moneyed Man, I. iii. 51. Its panelled rooms, and casemented windows.
1885. T. Mozley, Remin. Towns, Vill. & Schools, II. 343. A large irregular room…, with little casemented windows.
