diff --git a/src/lib/internal.h b/src/lib/internal.h
index 17f28ebbd..10524d505 100644
--- a/src/lib/internal.h
+++ b/src/lib/internal.h
@@ -277,9 +277,9 @@ typedef struct ncdirect {
 } ncdirect;
 
 typedef struct notcurses {
-  ncplane* top;   // topmost plane, never NULL
-  ncplane* bottom;// bottommost plane, never NULL 
-  ncplane* stdscr;// aliases some plane from the z-buffer, covers screen
+  ncplane* top;     // topmost plane, never NULL
+  ncplane* bottom;  // bottommost plane, never NULL 
+  ncplane* stdplane;// standard plane, covers screen
 
   // the style state of the terminal is carried across render runs
   renderstate rstate;
diff --git a/src/lib/notcurses.c b/src/lib/notcurses.c
index 7555414fd..4f98705e2 100644
--- a/src/lib/notcurses.c
+++ b/src/lib/notcurses.c
@@ -338,17 +338,17 @@ ncplane* ncplane_create(notcurses* nc, ncplane* n, int rows, int cols,
 // the z-buffer. clear out all cells. this is for a wholly new context.
 static ncplane*
 create_initial_ncplane(notcurses* nc, int dimy, int dimx){
-  nc->stdscr = ncplane_create(nc, NULL, dimy - (nc->margin_t + nc->margin_b),
+  nc->stdplane = ncplane_create(nc, NULL, dimy - (nc->margin_t + nc->margin_b),
                               dimx - (nc->margin_l + nc->margin_r), 0, 0, NULL);
-  return nc->stdscr;
+  return nc->stdplane;
 }
 
 ncplane* notcurses_stdplane(notcurses* nc){
-  return nc->stdscr;
+  return nc->stdplane;
 }
 
 const ncplane* notcurses_stdplane_const(const notcurses* nc){
-  return nc->stdscr;
+  return nc->stdplane;
 }
 
 ncplane* ncplane_new(notcurses* nc, int rows, int cols, int yoff, int xoff, void* opaque){
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ ncplane* ncplane_dup(const ncplane* n, void* opaque){
   return newn;
 }
 
-// can be used on stdscr, unlike ncplane_resize() which prohibits it.
+// can be used on stdplane, unlike ncplane_resize() which prohibits it.
 int ncplane_resize_internal(ncplane* n, int keepy, int keepx, int keepleny,
                             int keeplenx, int yoff, int xoff, int ylen, int xlen){
   if(keepleny < 0 || keeplenx < 0){ // can't retain negative size
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ int ncplane_resize_internal(ncplane* n, int keepy, int keepx, int keepleny,
 
 int ncplane_resize(ncplane* n, int keepy, int keepx, int keepleny,
                    int keeplenx, int yoff, int xoff, int ylen, int xlen){
-  if(n == n->nc->stdscr){
+  if(n == n->nc->stdplane){
 //fprintf(stderr, "Can't resize standard plane\n");
     return -1;
   }
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ int ncplane_destroy(ncplane* ncp){
   if(ncp == NULL){
     return 0;
   }
-  if(ncp->nc->stdscr == ncp){
+  if(ncp->nc->stdplane == ncp){
     logerror(ncp->nc, "Won't destroy standard plane\n");
     return -1;
   }
@@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ init_banner(const notcurses* nc){
     printf("\n  %d rows, %d columns (%sB), %d colors (%s)\n"
            "  compiled with gcc-%s\n"
            "  terminfo from %s\n",
-           nc->stdscr->leny, nc->stdscr->lenx,
+           nc->stdplane->leny, nc->stdplane->lenx,
            bprefix(nc->stats.fbbytes, 1, prefixbuf, 0),
            nc->tcache.colors, nc->tcache.RGBflag ? "direct" : "palette",
            __VERSION__, curses_version());
@@ -889,11 +889,11 @@ notcurses* notcurses_init(const notcurses_options* opts, FILE* outfp){
     terminfostr(&ret->tcache.smcup, "smcup");
     terminfostr(&ret->tcache.rmcup, "rmcup");
   }
-  ret->bottom = ret->top = ret->stdscr = NULL;
+  ret->bottom = ret->top = ret->stdplane = NULL;
   if(ncvisual_init(ffmpeg_log_level(ret->loglevel))){
     goto err;
   }
-  if((ret->stdscr = create_initial_ncplane(ret, dimy, dimx)) == NULL){
+  if((ret->stdplane = create_initial_ncplane(ret, dimy, dimx)) == NULL){
     goto err;
   }
   if(ret->ttyfd >= 0){
@@ -935,13 +935,13 @@ void notcurses_drop_planes(notcurses* nc){
   ncplane* p = nc->top;
   while(p){
     ncplane* tmp = p->below;
-    if(nc->stdscr != p){
+    if(nc->stdplane != p){
       free_plane(p);
     }
     p = tmp;
   }
-  nc->top = nc->bottom = nc->stdscr;
-  nc->stdscr->above = nc->stdscr->below = NULL;
+  nc->top = nc->bottom = nc->stdplane;
+  nc->stdplane->above = nc->stdplane->below = NULL;
 }
 
 int notcurses_stop(notcurses* nc){
@@ -1829,7 +1829,7 @@ move_bound_planes(ncplane* n, int dy, int dx){
 }
 
 int ncplane_move_yx(ncplane* n, int y, int x){
-  if(n == n->nc->stdscr){
+  if(n == n->nc->stdplane){
     return -1;
   }
   int dy, dx; // amount moved
@@ -1837,8 +1837,8 @@ int ncplane_move_yx(ncplane* n, int y, int x){
     dy = (n->boundto->absy + y) - n->absy;
     dx = (n->boundto->absx + x) - n->absx;
   }else{
-    dy = (n->nc->stdscr->absy + y) - n->absy;
-    dx = (n->nc->stdscr->absx + x) - n->absx;
+    dy = (n->nc->stdplane->absy + y) - n->absy;
+    dx = (n->nc->stdplane->absx + x) - n->absx;
   }
   n->absx += dx;
   n->absy += dy;
@@ -1849,14 +1849,14 @@ int ncplane_move_yx(ncplane* n, int y, int x){
 void ncplane_yx(const ncplane* n, int* y, int* x){
   if(y){
     if(n->boundto == NULL){
-      *y = n->absy - n->nc->stdscr->absy;
+      *y = n->absy - n->nc->stdplane->absy;
     }else{
       *y = n->absy - n->boundto->absy;
     }
   }
   if(x){
     if(n->boundto == NULL){
-      *x = n->absx - n->nc->stdscr->absx;
+      *x = n->absx - n->nc->stdplane->absx;
     }else{
       *x = n->absx - n->boundto->absx;
     }
@@ -2020,7 +2020,7 @@ const notcurses* ncplane_notcurses_const(const ncplane* n){
 }
 
 ncplane* ncplane_reparent(ncplane* n, ncplane* newparent){
-  if(n == n->nc->stdscr){
+  if(n == n->nc->stdplane){
     return NULL; // can't reparent standard plane
   }
   if(n->boundto == newparent){
diff --git a/src/lib/render.c b/src/lib/render.c
index e3a5c1768..65aa56032 100644
--- a/src/lib/render.c
+++ b/src/lib/render.c
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #include "internal.h"
 
 // Check whether the terminal geometry has changed, and if so, copies what can
-// be copied from the old stdscr. Assumes that the screen is always anchored at
+// be copied from the old stdplane. Assumes that the screen is always anchored at
 // the same origin. Also syncs up lastframe.
 static int
 notcurses_resize(notcurses* n, int* restrict rows, int* restrict cols){
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ notcurses_resize(notcurses* n, int* restrict rows, int* restrict cols){
   if(cols == NULL){
     cols = &c;
   }
-  int oldrows = n->stdscr->leny;
-  int oldcols = n->stdscr->lenx;
+  int oldrows = n->stdplane->leny;
+  int oldcols = n->stdplane->lenx;
   *rows = oldrows;
   *cols = oldcols;
   if(update_term_dimensions(n->ttyfd, rows, cols)){
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ notcurses_resize(notcurses* n, int* restrict rows, int* restrict cols){
   if(keepx > oldcols){
     keepx = oldcols;
   }
-  if(ncplane_resize_internal(n->stdscr, 0, 0, keepy, keepx, 0, 0, *rows, *cols)){
+  if(ncplane_resize_internal(n->stdplane, 0, 0, keepy, keepx, 0, 0, *rows, *cols)){
     return -1;
   }
   return 0;
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ postpaint(cell* fb, cell* lastframe, int dimy, int dimx,
 int ncplane_mergedown(ncplane* restrict src, ncplane* restrict dst){
   notcurses* nc = src->nc;
   if(dst == NULL){
-    dst = nc->stdscr;
+    dst = nc->stdplane;
   }
   int dimy, dimx;
   ncplane_dim_yx(dst, &dimy, &dimx);
@@ -776,10 +776,10 @@ notcurses_rasterize(notcurses* nc, const struct crender* rvec, FILE* out){
   // we explicitly move the cursor at the beginning of each output line, so no
   // need to home it expliticly.
   update_palette(nc, out);
-  for(y = nc->stdscr->absy ; y < nc->stdscr->leny + nc->stdscr->absy ; ++y){
-    const int innery = y - nc->stdscr->absy;
-    for(x = nc->stdscr->absx ; x < nc->stdscr->lenx + nc->stdscr->absx ; ++x){
-      const int innerx = x - nc->stdscr->absx;
+  for(y = nc->stdplane->absy ; y < nc->stdplane->leny + nc->stdplane->absy ; ++y){
+    const int innery = y - nc->stdplane->absy;
+    for(x = nc->stdplane->absx ; x < nc->stdplane->lenx + nc->stdplane->absx ; ++x){
+      const int innerx = x - nc->stdplane->absx;
       const size_t damageidx = innery * nc->lfdimx + innerx;
       unsigned r, g, b, br, bg, bb, palfg, palbg;
       const cell* srccell = &nc->lastframe[damageidx];
@@ -968,8 +968,8 @@ int notcurses_refresh(notcurses* nc, int* restrict dimy, int* restrict dimx){
   if(home_cursor(nc, true)){
     return -1;
   }
-  const int count = (nc->lfdimx > nc->stdscr->lenx ? nc->lfdimx : nc->stdscr->lenx) *
-                    (nc->lfdimy > nc->stdscr->leny ? nc->lfdimy : nc->stdscr->leny);
+  const int count = (nc->lfdimx > nc->stdplane->lenx ? nc->lfdimx : nc->stdplane->lenx) *
+                    (nc->lfdimy > nc->stdplane->leny ? nc->lfdimy : nc->stdplane->leny);
   struct crender* rvec = malloc(count * sizeof(*rvec));
   if(rvec == NULL){
     return -1;
@@ -996,8 +996,8 @@ int notcurses_render_to_file(struct notcurses* nc, FILE* fp){
   if(out == NULL){
     return -1;
   }
-  const int count = (nc->lfdimx > nc->stdscr->lenx ? nc->lfdimx : nc->stdscr->lenx) *
-                    (nc->lfdimy > nc->stdscr->leny ? nc->lfdimy : nc->stdscr->leny);
+  const int count = (nc->lfdimx > nc->stdplane->lenx ? nc->lfdimx : nc->stdplane->lenx) *
+                    (nc->lfdimy > nc->stdplane->leny ? nc->lfdimy : nc->stdplane->leny);
   struct crender* rvec = malloc(count * sizeof(*rvec));
   if(rvec == NULL){
     fclose(out);
@@ -1031,14 +1031,14 @@ int notcurses_render_to_file(struct notcurses* nc, FILE* fp){
 static int
 notcurses_render_internal(notcurses* nc, struct crender* rvec){
   int dimy, dimx;
-  ncplane_dim_yx(nc->stdscr, &dimy, &dimx);
+  ncplane_dim_yx(nc->stdplane, &dimy, &dimx);
   cell* fb = malloc(sizeof(*fb) * dimy * dimx);
   init_fb(fb, dimy, dimx);
   ncplane* p = nc->top;
   while(p){
     if(paint(p, nc->lastframe, rvec, fb, &nc->pool,
-             nc->stdscr->leny, nc->stdscr->lenx,
-             nc->stdscr->absy, nc->stdscr->absx, nc->lfdimx)){
+             nc->stdplane->leny, nc->stdplane->lenx,
+             nc->stdplane->absy, nc->stdplane->absx, nc->lfdimx)){
       free(fb);
       return -1;
     }
@@ -1056,7 +1056,7 @@ int notcurses_render(notcurses* nc){
   int dimy, dimx;
   notcurses_resize(nc, &dimy, &dimx);
   int bytes = -1;
-  const size_t crenderlen = sizeof(struct crender) * nc->stdscr->leny * nc->stdscr->lenx;
+  const size_t crenderlen = sizeof(struct crender) * nc->stdplane->leny * nc->stdplane->lenx;
   struct crender* crender = malloc(crenderlen);
   memset(crender, 0, crenderlen);
   if(notcurses_render_internal(nc, crender) == 0){
diff --git a/src/lib/visual.cpp b/src/lib/visual.cpp
index 0e3949d1b..063e6c78c 100644
--- a/src/lib/visual.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/visual.cpp
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ auto ncvisual_geom(const notcurses* nc, const ncvisual* n,
       *y = n->rows;
       *x = n->cols;
     }else{
-      int rows = vopts->n ? ncplane_dim_y(vopts->n) : ncplane_dim_y(nc->stdscr);
-      int cols = vopts->n ? ncplane_dim_x(vopts->n) : ncplane_dim_x(nc->stdscr);
+      int rows = vopts->n ? ncplane_dim_y(vopts->n) : ncplane_dim_y(nc->stdplane);
+      int cols = vopts->n ? ncplane_dim_x(vopts->n) : ncplane_dim_x(nc->stdplane);
       *y = rows * encoding_y_scale(bset);
       *x = cols * encoding_x_scale(bset);
     }