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Definition of gatehouse

gatehouse

/ˈɡeɪtˌhaʊs/
gate · house
Plural:gatehouses
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gatehouse Lexical Profile

gatehouse Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A building situated beside or over an entrance gate to a castle, manor, park, or large estate, traditionally used as a residence for a gatekeeper or to control access.

Example

"Visitors must register at the stone gatehouse before driving up the long avenue to the manor."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for gatehouse

• Nearby Words

gatecrasher
gated
gatefold
gatehouse
gatekeep
gatekeeper
gatekeeping

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English as a compound of 'gate' (from Old English 'geat') and 'house' (from Old English 'hus'), originally designating a fortified structure built over or beside the entrance to a castle or walled city.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gatehouse. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gatehouse
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