Gate \Gate\ (g[=a]t), n. [OE. [yogh]et, [yogh]eat, giat, gate,
door, AS. geat, gat, gate, door; akin to OS., D., & Icel. gat
opening, hole, and perh. to E. gate a way, gait, and get, v.
Cf. Gate a way, 3d Get.]
1. A large door or passageway in the wall of a city, of an
inclosed field or place, or of a grand edifice, etc.;
also, the movable structure of timber, metal, etc., by
which the passage can be closed.
2. An opening for passage in any inclosing wall, fence, or
barrier; or the suspended framework which closes or opens
a passage. Also, figuratively, a means or way of entrance
or of exit.
Knowest thou the way to Dover? Both stile and gate,
horse way and footpath. --Shak.
Opening a gate for a long war. --Knolles.
3. A door, valve, or other device, for stopping the passage
of water through a dam, lock, pipe, etc.
4. (Script.) The places which command the entrances or
access; hence, place of vantage; power; might.
The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
--Matt. xvi.
18.
5. In a lock tumbler, the opening for the stump of the bolt
to pass through or into.
6. (Founding) (a) The channel or opening through which metal is poured
into the mold; the ingate. (b) The waste piece of metal cast in the opening; a sprue
or sullage piece. [Written also geat and git.]
Gate chamber, a recess in the side wall of a canal lock,
which receives the opened gate.
Gate channel. See Gate, 5.
Gate hook, the hook-formed piece of a gate hinge.
Gate money, entrance money for admission to an inclosure.
Gate tender, one in charge of a gate, as at a railroad
crossing.
Gate valva, a stop valve for a pipe, having a sliding gate
which affords a straight passageway when open.
Gate vein (Anat.), the portal vein.
To break gates (Eng. Univ.), to enter a college inclosure
after the hour to which a student has been restricted.
To stand in the gate, or gates, to occupy places or
advantage, power, or defense.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |