A witch window is a type of window found in American vernacular architecture, particularly in or near the U.S. state of Vermont. It is a double-hung window, occasionally a single-sided casement window, placed in the gable-end wall of a house and rotated approximately 1/8 of a turn from the vertical, leaving it diagonal, with its long edge parallel to the roof slope. Witch windows are usually installed at a 45-degree angle on the second story of older farmhouses.
The name "witch window" appears to come from a folk belief that witches cannot fly their broomsticks through the tilted windows, although it seems unlikely that the tale was taken seriously. The windows are also known as "coffin windows," but it is unclear if they were really used for removing a coffin from the second floor or if the odd placement on the wall was reminiscent of a coffin.
Witch windows are found almost exclusively in or near Vermont, generally in the central and northern parts of the state. They are principally installed in farmhouses from the 19th century, and can be found less frequently in new construction.
In summary, a witch window is a type of window found in American vernacular architecture, particularly in or near Vermont, that is placed in the gable-end wall of a house and rotated approximately 1/8 of a turn from the vertical, leaving it diagonal, with its long edge parallel to the roof slope. The name "witch window" comes from a folk belief that witches cannot fly their broomsticks through the tilted windows, although it seems unlikely that the tale was taken seriously.