ETYM Old Eng. scren, Old Fren. escrein, escran, French écran, of uncertain origin; cf. German schirm a screen, Old High Germ. scirm, scerm a protection, shield, or German schragen a trestle, a stack of wood, or German schranne a railing.
1. A covering that serves to conceal or shelter something; SYN. cover, covert, concealment.
2. A white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing; SYN. silver screen, projection screen.
3. A decorative frame or panel serving to divide a space.
4. A metallic netting mounted in a frame and covering windows or doors for protection (especially against insects).
5. The surface of the large end of a cathode-ray tube on which an electronically created image is formed; SYN. crt screen.
ETYM Italian umbrella, from ombra a shade, Latin umbra; cf. Latin umbella a sunshade, a parasol. Related to Umbel, Umbrage.
1. A lightweight handheld collapsible shelter.
2. Having the function of uniting a group of similar things.
3. A formation of military planes maintained over ground operations or targets.
Portable protection against the rain (when used in the sun it is usually called a parasol or sunshade). In use in China for more than a thousand years, umbrellas were also held over the rulers of ancient Egypt and Assyria as symbols of power and had a similar significance for Aztec and African rulers and dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church.