Editing Clerestory (section)

{{Short description|Windows in wall above eye level}}
{{Redirect|Clearstory|the British news organisation|ClearStory}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Use British English |date=March 2024}}
[[File:Clerestory diagram.png|thumb|upright|Interior elevation of a [[Gothic cathedral]], with clerestory highlighted]]
[[File:Stralsund, st Nikolai (2007-01-24) d.JPG|thumb|The church of [[St. Nicholas' Church (Stralsund)|St Nicholas, Stralsund]] in Germany {{Ndash}}the clerestory is the level between the two green roofs, reinforced here by [[flying buttress]]es]]

A '''clerestory''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|l|ɪər|s|t|ɔːr|i}} {{respell|KLEER|stor|ee}}; {{literally|clear storey}}, also '''clearstory''', '''clearstorey''', or '''overstorey'''; from [[Old French]] ''cler estor'') is a high section of wall that contains [[window]]s above eye-level. Its purpose is to admit light, fresh air, or both.

Historically, a ''clerestory'' formed an upper level of a Roman [[basilica]] or of the [[nave]] of a [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] or [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] [[church (building)|church]], the walls of which rise above the rooflines of the lower [[aisle]]s and which are pierced with windows.

In addition to [[architecture]], [[#Transportation|clerestories]] have been used in transportation vehicles such as buses and trains to provide additional lighting, ventilation, or headroom.