sidebar
UK[ˈsaɪd.bɑː]US[ˈsaɪd.bɑːr]
n
A short article or piece of information placed alongside a main article in a newspaper, magazine, or website, providing related or supplementary details.
n
A panel or section of a computer interface, typically positioned at the side of the main window, containing supplementary tools or information.
n
A discussion or conference between a judge and the lawyers in a case, held at the side of the courtroom out of the jury's hearing.
Morpheme Breakdown
side
bar
side
lateral position
bar
rod, barrier
Etymology
The word 'sidebar' is a transparent compound formed within Modern English from two native and borrowed elements. The first element, 'side', is a foundational Germanic word with a stable meaning of lateral position. The second, 'bar', entered English from Old French, originally denoting a rod or barrier. In its literal legal context, a 'sidebar' referred to the physical barrier at the side of a courtroom where a judge could hold a private conversation. This concept of a distinct, adjacent space was then metaphorically extended to publishing, describing a block of text set apart beside the main column. Finally, the term was adopted in computing to label a dedicated panel at the edge of a screen, completing its journey from a physical courtroom fixture to a digital interface component.
Analysis
Structure: side (lateral position) + bar (rod, barrier)
side: From Old English sīde (flank, side), of Germanic origin. In this compound, it functions as a noun indicating a lateral position or area.
bar: From Old French barre (rod, barrier), ultimately of unknown origin. In this compound, it functions as a noun denoting a physical or conceptual barrier, strip, or panel.
Examples
The article included a sidebar with a timeline of key events.
You can customize the widgets displayed in your browser's sidebar.
The judge called the attorneys for a sidebar to discuss the admissibility of the evidence.