noun
skylight; dormer window; transom
A window or opening designed primarily to let in natural light, such as a skylight, dormer window, or transom window.
屋根に明かり取りを付けて、部屋を明るくした。
We installed a skylight on the roof to brighten the room.
この古い家の廊下には、明かり
In the hallway of this old house, there is a small transom window for letting in light.
Search-only form using 明り and 採り.
天窓 specifically refers to a skylight on a roof, while 明かり取り is a broader term for any window or opening that lets in light, including dormer and transom windows.
Compound of 明かり (light) and 取り (taking, letting in). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the meaning is transparent from its components.