Etymology dictionary. 2014.
Postern — Pos tern, n. [OF. posterne, posterle, F. poterne, fr. L. posterula, fr. posterus coming after. See {Posterior}.] 1. Originally, a back door or gate; a private entrance; hence, any small door or gate. [1913 Webster] He by a privy postern took his… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
postern — [pōs′tərn, päs′tərn] n. [ME < OFr posterne, altered < posterle < LL posterula, a small back door, postern, dim. < posterus: see POSTERIOR] a back door or gate; private entrance at the side or rear adj. of or resembling a postern, as… … English World dictionary
Postern — Pos tern, a. Back; being behind; private. The postern door. Dryden. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
postern — index portal Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
postern — gate, *door, gateway, doorway, portal … New Dictionary of Synonyms
postern — ► NOUN ▪ a back or side entrance. ORIGIN Old French posterne, from Latin posterus following … English terms dictionary
Postern — A postern is a secondary door or gate, particularly in a fortification such as a city wall or castle curtain wall. Posterns were often located in a concealed location, allowing the occupants to come and go inconspicuously. In the event of a siege … Wikipedia
Postern — Murage of the City arising out of Candelwykestrete from the house of Fulk de St. Edmund as far as the postern, 1 Ed. II. (Cal. L. Bk. C. p.162). This postern would seem not to have been one of those in the City wall … Dictionary of London
postern — noun Etymology: Middle English posterne, from Anglo French, alteration of Old French posterle, from Late Latin posterula, diminutive of postera back door, from Latin, feminine of posterus Date: 14th century 1. a back door or gate 2. a private or… … New Collegiate Dictionary
postern — /poh steuhrn, pos teuhrn/, n. 1. a back door or gate. 2. a private entrance or any entrance other than the main one. adj. 3. of, pertaining to, or resembling a postern. [1250 1300; ME posterne < OF, var. of posterle < LL posterula, dim. of… … Universalium
