ˈgate-post
[f. gate n.1 + post n.]
a. One of the posts belonging to a gate, either that upon which it hangs, or that against which it shuts.
| 1522 MS. Acc. St. John's Hosp., Canterb., For settyng vp of a gatepost ij d. 1614 Raleigh Hist. World ii. x. §2. 380 The Mountaines within this Tribe are few, and that of Sampson the chiefest: vnto which he carried the Gate-post of Gaza. 1708 Motteux Rabelais v. xxviii. (1737) 128 As grave as an old Gate-Post. 1789 Trans. Soc. Arts VII. 11 Gate-Posts of the Spanish Chestnut. 1816 J. Smith Panorama Sc. & Art II. 598 Stone is the most suitable for gate⁓posts. 1848 C. A. Johns Week at Lizard 257 Gate-posts..are..often made of timber recovered in this way. |
b. Colloq. phr. between (or † betwixt) you (and) me and the gate-post, in strict confidence. Cf. bed-post, post n.1 1 c.
| 1871 E. Eggleston Hoosier Schoolmaster (1872) xiv. 82 A-twix you and me and the gate-post, don't you never believe nothing that Mirandy Means says. 1875 Browning Inn Album ii. 39 A secret's safe 'Twixt you, me and the gate-post! 1884 ‘C. E. Craddock’ Where Battle was Fought 152 Between you and me and the gate-post, old Walter Percy is a fool about everything in this world except money. 1959 P. H. Johnson Humbler creation xxxix. 265 Strictly between you and me and the gate-post, Colonel, I don't care for them. |