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Gate

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Gate from Bucharest (Romania)
Art Nouveau gate of Castel Béranger (Paris)
Candi bentar, a typical Indonesian gate that is often found on the islands of Java and Bali

A gate or gateway is a point of entry to or from a space enclosed by walls. The word derived from old Norse "gat"[1] meaning road or path; But other terms include yett and port. The concept originally referred to the gap or hole in the wall or fence, rather than a barrier which closed it. Gates may prevent or control the entry or exit of individuals, or they may be merely decorative. The moving part or parts of a gateway may not be considered "doors", as they are fixed at one side whilst opening and closing like one, but they are outside, thus not a door.[2]

A gate may have a latch that can be raised and lowered to both open a gate or prevent it from swinging.[3] Locks are also used on gates to increase the security. Larger gates can be used for a whole building, such as a castle or fortified town. Actual doors can also be considered gates when they are used to block entry as prevalent within a gatehouse. Today, many gate doors are opened by an automated gate operator.

Purpose-specific types of gate

Japanese Torii at Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site Japan, where the Hindu goddess Saraswati is worshipped as the Buddhist-Shinto goddess Benzaiten

See also

References

  1. ^ "gate | Origin and meaning of gate by Online Etymology Dictionary". www.etymonline.com. Retrieved 2019-04-20.
  2. ^ "GATE | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary". dictionary.cambridge.org. Retrieved 2019-04-20.
  3. ^ "Hardware 101: Gate Latches". Gardenista. 2016-11-17. Retrieved 2019-04-20.