postern

American  

[poh-stern, pos-tern] / ˈpoʊ stərn, ˈpɒs tərn /

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 British  

/ ˈpɒstən /

noun

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

---

adjective

1. situated at the rear or the side

Etymology

Origin of postern

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

Example Sentences

But most of them opened their postern gates and let Mr. Jones come in with the money he was determined to inject into them.

From Time Magazine Archive

Upon being prompted, however, he went on: "Behind shut the postern, the lights sank to rest."

From Time Magazine Archive

This postern was the least of Harrenhal's gates, a narrow door of stout oak studded with iron nails, set in an angle of the wall beneath a defensive tower.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

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

From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien

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 "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli