- To stand in the gates
- 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.
[1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
Knowest thou the way to Dover? Both stile and gate, horse way and footpath. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Opening a gate for a long war. --Knolles. [1913 Webster]
3. A door, valve, or other device, for stopping the passage of water through a dam, lock, pipe, etc. [1913 Webster]
4. (Script.) The places which command the entrances or access; hence, place of vantage; power; might. [1913 Webster]
The gates of hell shall not prevail against it. --Matt. xvi. 18. [1913 Webster]
5. In a lock tumbler, the opening for the stump of the bolt to pass through or into. [1913 Webster]
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}.] [1913 Webster]
{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 {To stand in the gates}, to occupy places or advantage, power, or defense. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
