postern n : a small gate in the rear of a fort or castle

English

Etymology

From posterne, from posterula, diminutive of posterus.

Noun

1. A small gate or door, especially one in the rear of a fortification

Translations

• trreq Dutch
• French: poterne
• German: Hintertür
• Italian: postierla
• Russian: потерна
• Spanish: portillo, postigo, poterna

Adjective

1. Situated at the rear; posterior

Swedish

Noun

postern

1. sv-noun-form-def poster

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, a postern could act as a sally port, allowing defenders to make a sortie on the besiegers.

French door, aft, after, aftermost, afterpart, afterpiece, archway, back, back door, back seat, back side, backward, barway, behind, breech, bulkhead, carriage entrance, cellar door, cellarway, door, doorjamb, doorpost, doorway, front door, gate, gatepost, gateway, hatch, hatchway, heel, hind, hind end, hind part, hinder, hindermost, hindhand, hindhead, hindmost, lintel, occiput, porch, portal, porte cochere, posterior, propylaeum, pylon, rear, rear end, rearmost, rearward, retrograde, reverse, scuttle, side door, stern, stile, storm door, tail, tail end, tailpiece, threshold, tollgate, trap, trap door, turnpike, turnstile