Why are frech doors called "french doors"?

Question

Why are frech doors called "french doors"?

Answer 1

Only thing I know is that in France they're not called that.

Answer 2

Hi! I'm French and i was really surprised the first time i heard that you call these doors "french doors" because we don't do it in France, we call them "portes-fenêtre" that means "window doors". So i don't have any idea about the explanation, i just can say that it's not from France. After all, french fries are from belgium actually, and you don't call them belgian fries!

Answer 3

either because the bloke who invented them was called French or they're from France???

oui oui??

Answer 4

They are called French doors because that style, incorporating a glass panel, existed in France long before they were adopted in England. The French climate lent itself better to that kind of doors, whilst over here we needed solid wood to keep the elements and the drafts out  (that is until it became fashionable to incorporate them in ordinary homes and before global warming). The same applies to "louvred" doors/ shutters (with horizontal slats at an angle) which are not called like that in France either and have nothing to do with the Louvre.

You will be amused to know that the French return the compliment by calling a standing cupboard with panes of glass in its doors "une armoire anglaise" because that style  arose in England before it was adopted in France, and not because they are English antiques!

Answer 5

I believe that the term arises from the fact that the style of highly decorated doors, as opposed to door surrounds (the casing around the door frame) originated in France.

The Italian Renaissance fashion, was to have ornately decorated door surrounds but to have the doors themselves relatively plain and solid.

But the French fashion the doors were elaborately carved while the surrounds were less decorated.

So glass paneled doors (recalling that window glass for everyday use is a relatively more recent invention) were called "French doors."

This is JUST a guess on my part and I could totally wrong about it.