Klatka

Klatka is a Polish noun that denotes an enclosure or cage used to confine animals or objects. The primary sense covers cages or crates made from materials such as metal bars, mesh, wood, or plastic. Cages are used in a variety of contexts, including pet keeping (dog crates, rabbit cages, birdcages), agriculture (poultry cages and transport crates), laboratories (animal cages), and domestic settings for storage or containment of small items. Sizes range from small pet enclosures to larger aviaries or confinement setups.

In anatomy, the term appears in phrases like klatka piersiowa, meaning the thorax or chest. The thoracic cage comprises the sternum, ribs, and thoracic vertebrae, protecting the heart and lungs and supporting respiration.

In architecture and building terminology, klatka schodowa denotes the stairwell, the vertical passage between floors that includes stairs, landings, and railing. This usage reflects the sense of an enclosed, shared space within a building.

Beyond these common meanings, klatka functions as a general reference to an enclosing frame or compartment and appears in numerous compound nouns across domains. Etymologically, the word conveys the idea of an enclosed structure and is related to other terms describing frames or cages within Polish.