Dutch door

American  

noun

1. a door consisting of two units horizontally divided so that each half can be opened or closed separately.

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Dutch door British  

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): stable door.  a door with an upper and lower leaf that may be opened separately

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Etymology

Origin of Dutch door

First recorded in 1640–50

Example Sentences

A light-filled kitchen offers custom cabinetry, marble countertops, built-in seating, a farmhouse sink, and a Dutch door that opens to the outdoor living area.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

“The cuckoo clock, the Dutch door, the daylight basement — humble horsemen of the domestic Apocalypse. The VWs, parked in the driveway.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2025

France boss Corinne Diacre said beforehand they would approach this encounter "with a sledgehammer" and that was how it appeared as they battered on the Dutch door from the off.

From BBC • Jul. 23, 2022

The designers and homeowners’ favorite view, however, is that of the pond on misty mornings, framed by the upper section of a Dutch door in the kitchen.

From New York Times • Dec. 29, 2020

Joe knocked on a yellow Dutch door, and the violin fell silent.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown