postern
Castle's rear exit
A postern is a small secondary door or gate, especially one at the back or side of a fortification.
Medieval castles typically had posterns for discreet exits during sieges or for receiving supplies without opening the main gate: They slipped out through the postern under cover of darkness.
The word is largely historical or literary.
Small subsidiary entrance
- doorwayPassage into a room
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- portalImposing entrance or gate
- entrancePoint of access
archway · passageway · hinge · latch · bolt · iron · wooden · frame
Made invisible deliberately
- hiddenKept out of sight
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- escapeFlight from captivity
disguised · unguarded · backdoor · unobserved · furtive · discreet · private · obscure
Outer defensive tower
- gatehouseStructure over an entrance
- wicketSmall subsidiary entrance
- drawbridgeHinged castle entrance span
- portcullisVertical sliding castle gate
rampart · battlement · parapet · bastion · citadel · stronghold · keep · tower
wicket
Small subsidiary entrance
entrance · archway · passageway · hinge · latch · bolt · iron · wooden · frame · lock
concealed
Made invisible deliberately
- hiddenKept out of sight
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
escape · disguised · unguarded · backdoor · unobserved · furtive · discreet · private · obscure · unnoticed
barbican
Outer defensive tower
- gatehouseStructure over an entrance
- wicketSmall subsidiary entrance
- drawbridgeHinged castle entrance span
portcullis · rampart · battlement · parapet · bastion · citadel · stronghold · keep · tower · bulwark
castle
Fortified medieval residence
siege · garrison · serfdom · chivalry · heraldry · squire · vassal · fiefdom · seneschal · bailiff
monastery
Religious seclusion dwelling
convent · nunnery · cathedral · chapel · crypt · precinct · enclosure · refectory · scriptorium
- castleskeep, moat, drawbridge, dungeon, turret
- castle partsmoat, keep, drawbridge, battlement, tower
- fortificationsfort, fortress, fortresses, citadel, citadels
- gatesgate, front gate, back gate, side gate, main gate
- fort partswatchtower, ramparts, palisade, gatehouse, guard tower
- castle defensesportcullis, drawbridge, murder hole, barbican, sally port
posternmain gate
Primary access point
front gate · main entrance · grand entrance · front door · front
- posterior chamberEye cavity behind iris
- posterior fossaRear skull cavity
- posterior pituitaryHypothalamic hormone release site