ˈoutgate, n. (adv.)
Also Sc. -gait. Now Sc. and north. dial.
[out- 7.]
1. The action of going out; outgoing, passage out; exit, egress; debouching.
| a 1300 E.E. Psalter cxiii. [cxiv.] 1 In oute-gate of Israele Oute of Egipt. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 375/2 Owte gate, exitus. 1455 Rolls of Parlt. V. 311/2 Free ingate and outgate to the premisses. 1496, 1598 [see ingate 1]. 1615 Crooke Body of Man 766 The outgate of the breath is hindered. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie I. xxviii. 259 (Jam.) She..maybe a wee that dressy and fond o' outgait. 1865 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. xviii. ii. (1872) VII. 106 Moldau Valley..making, on its outgate at the northern end of Prag..one big loop. |
2. A passage or way out, an outlet; a means of egress; fig. a way of escape or deliverance.
| 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 179 Than suld never promess na obligacioun bynd a fals man, na he wald get ane outgate. 1513 Douglas æneis ix. vii. 28 Sone ombeset haue thai The outgatis al. 1596 Spenser State Irel. Wks. (Globe) 665/1 Those paces are soe fitt for trade and trafficke, having most convenient out-gates by diverse rivers to the sea. 1616 Surfl. & Markh. Country Farme 688 If he meet with a hedge, he holdeth along by the side of it, to see if he can find any out-gate. 1659 A. Hay Diary (S.H.S. 1900) 194 The Lord provyd ane outgate for his people. 1865 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. xx. ix. (1872) IX. 165 The dragoons were a hundred, and..every outgate was beset. |
b. Issue, outcome. Sc.
| 1568 Mary Q. of Scots in H. Campbell Love-lett. App. (1824) 29 To the effect the samin sould be the mair promptlie endit with some happy outgait to my honour and contentment. 1663 Blair Autobiog. ii. (1848) 32 Wondering what would be the outgate. 1786 A. Gib Sacr. Contempl. 318 Others are brought more quickly to an happy outgate. |
† 3. Usually in pl. Goods ‘going’ or carried out of a town or port, exports; also, export dues.
| 1621–1886 [see ingate n.1 4]. |
B. adv. Outwards; outside, without.
| 1590, 1611 [see ingate n.1 B]. 1898 Crockett Standard Bearer xxxiv. 301 May they burn back and front, ingate and outgate. |