Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Plural form of postern.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Usually the soldiers set to keep deserters from using the posterns were the first to come over.

    Soldiers Live Cook, Glen 2000

  • Two doors lay open before him and he passed through, great, bristly shoulders scraping gilt veneer from the posterns.

    The Pig’s End « A Fly in Amber 2009

  • Numerous bands of the Greek citizens began, with the very break of day, to issue from the gates and posterns of the city, to examine and wonder at the construction of the lists, pass their criticisms upon the purposes of the peculiar parts of the fabric, and occupy places, to secure them for the spectacle.

    Count Robert of Paris 2008

  • At no great distance, the walls of the city were seen, of various architecture, composed of lime and of stone, and furnished with no less than four-and-twenty gates, or posterns, five of which regarded the land, and nineteen the water.

    Count Robert of Paris 2008

  • For this reason they pushed forward the construction of their work with posterns and entrances and means of introducing the enemy, being eager to have it finished in time.

    The History of the Peloponnesian War Thucydides 2005

  • The keys of all the posterns: please your highness

    The Winter’s Tale 2004

  • Also there were twelue basiliskes, whereof they shot but with 8. that is to weet, foure shot agaynst the posterns of England and Spaine, and two against the gate of Italy: the other two shot sometime against Saint Nicholas tower.

    The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation 2003

  • All the doors and posterns were locked, but he finally though of creeping up to a window, and opening that, and as the clock struck nine, he crept out there.

    The Pink Fairy Book 2003

  • Igraine he put in the castle of Tintagil, and himself he put in the castle of Terrabil, the which had many issues and posterns out.

    Le Morte d'Arthur: Sir Thomas Malory's book of King Arthur and of his noble knights of the Round table 2003

  • The eight day of Iuly it was knowen that the Turkish women being slaues and seruaunts in many houses of the towne, had appointed to set fire in their masters houses at the first assault that should be made, to the end that the men should leaue their posterns and defenses to go and saue their houses and goods.

    The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation 2003

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