Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Postern(e, n. Also: posth-; posterin. [ME and e.m.E. posterne (c 1290), -orne (14th c.), noun, also comb. (c 1350), OF posterne (Rom. de la Rose 1160–76, mod. F. poterne), altered f. OF posterle, late L. posterula a back way, small back door or gate, in med. L. posterla, posterna (du Cange), dimin. of posterus that is behind: cf. Postrum n.¹, Postroun(e n.] A postern. = Postrum n.¹ Also comb. in postern dure, ȝet, id. 1513 Doug. ii viii 30.
A smal wykket thar was, or entre dern, A litil ȝet clepit a postern 1531 Bell. Boece I 45.
King Rewther ischit at ane quiet posthern with his nobillis a1540 Freiris Berw. 129 (B).
He had a prevy posterne [M. postroun] of his awin Quhair he micht ische … vnknawin 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I 17.
As thair is sindrie bak posternes within the samencomb. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 18.
Thair is ane posterne dure in the towne wall hard be the hous 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Portica, ane bak dure or posterne ȝet 1618 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 107.
For a new key to the north posterin yett in the castell