Why are shutter slats called louvres?
The word louvre derives from the French word ‘louver.’ As we know, the word refers to a shutter, blind, or window that has slats angled horizontally to allow light and air to pass through.
Wikipedia tells us that louvres originated way back in the Middle Ages where they began as basic constructions fitted into the top of roof holes in large kitchens to aid ventilation while keeping out adverse weather. Later, their designs became more elaborate and were made of pottery to allow smoke and steam generated from cooking a means of escape. As their design evolved further, they were built into constructions that were more like modern louvres, with slats that could be opened or closed by pulling on a string. Today, louvres are commonplace in all kinds of architecture, infrastructure, transportation, and electronics.