postern

[ poh-stern, pos-tern ]

noun

1. a back door or gate.
2. a private entrance or any entrance other than the main one.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling a postern.

postern

/ ˈpɒstən /

noun

1. a back door or gate, esp one that is for private use

adjective

1. situated at the rear or the side

Word History and Origins

Origin of postern¹

1250–1300; Middle English posterne < Old French, variant of posterle < Late Latin posterula, diminutive of postera back door, noun use of feminine of posterus coming behind. See posterior, -ule

Word History and Origins

Origin of postern¹

C13: from Old French posterne, from Late Latin posterula ( jānua ) a back (entrance), from posterus coming behind; see posterior , posterity

Example Sentences

By then they were more than halfway to the hospice, but it was nearly dark when they reached St. Mark’s and were admitted by the porter at the postern gate.

From Literature

The postern was closed again, the iron door was barred and piled inside with stones.

From Literature

It was a battered wooden postern under a slab of stone.

From Literature

He saw three gates during his wanderings—the main entrance with its gatehouse, a postern by the kennels, and a garden gate hidden behind a tangle of pale ivy.

From Literature

"Y'Grace," he said quietly, "the boys caught a groom and two maidservants trying to sneak out a postern with three of the king's horses."

From Literature