stable door
The door of a stable. Prov. to shut (lock, etc.) the stable door when the horse is stolen, to take preventive measures too late.
| 13.. Sir Beues 2152 At stable dore to him ȝhe sede [etc.]. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xxxii, Isidor watched the stable⁓door constantly. |
| 1390 Gower Conf. II. 32 For whan the grete Stiede Is stole, thanne he [Negligence] taketh hiede, And makth the stable dore fast. c 1450 Lat. & Eng. Prov. (MS. Douce 52) lf. 16 When þe hors is stole steke þe stabull dore. 1509 Watson Ship of Fools xii. (1517) D iv, The foole..shytteth the stable doore whan the horse is stolen. 1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel 1435 When the stede is stolyn, sparr the stable dur. 1719 De Foe Crusoe ii. (Globe) 387 It was only shutting the Stable Door after the Stead was stoln. 1887 D. C. Murray Old Blazer's Hero iv, To lock the stable-door when the mare is stolen. |