Another name for a Rose Window, a circular window found in many cathedrals and churches, normally decorated with ornate tracery. The Catherine-Wheel window is so called due to the tracery radiating from the center and creating an effect not dissimilar to the spokes of a wheel. The name originate from the torture device used throughout history in various parts of Europe, most famous for its use in the matyrdom of St Catherine of Alexandria. See also Catherine Wheel.
The best examples of these windows are found in the great gothic cathedrals of France, namely Chartres, Notre Dame and Laon, but examples can be found in other countries where this style of architecture flourished, such as the United Kingdom and Germany.