postern

From Old French posterne, alteration of posterle, from Late Latin posterula (“back door”), from Latin posterus (“later”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɒst(ə)n/

postern (plural posterns)

1. A back gate, back door, side entrance, or other gateway distinct from the main entrance.
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter ij, in Le Morte Darthur, book XII:

     And as they cam hurlyng vnder the Castel where as sir launcelot lay in wyndowe / & sawe how two knyghtes layd vpon syr Blyaunt with their swerdes / […] / And thenne sir launcelot brake the chaynes fro his legges and of his armes / […] / & so sir launcelot ran out at a posterne / and there he mett with the two knyȝtes that chaced sir Blyaunt

   • Edmund Spenser (c.1552–1599)

     He by a privy postern took his flight.

   • William Shakespeare (c.1564–1616)

     Out at the postern, by the abbey wall.

2. (archaic) By extension, a separate or hidden way in or out of a place, situation etc.
3. (historical, military) A subterranean passage communicating between the parade and the main ditch, or between the ditches and the interior of the outworks.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Mahan to this entry?)

postern (comparative more postern, superlative most postern)

1. Situated at the rear; posterior.

• Preston, reptons

postern

1. definite singular of poster