Haustor

Haustor is a German noun referring to the principal entrance of a building, often the exterior gate or doorway that gives access from outside to the interior of a house. It is formed from the elements Haus (house) and Tor (gate or large door). In everyday German, Haustür is more commonly used for the actual front door, while Haustor can imply a larger entrance, a gate into a courtyard, or a grand doorway, and is sometimes encountered in architectural descriptions or historical texts.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from the Old High German or earlier Germanic compounds meaning "house gate." Over time, Haustor sometimes appears in sources describing manor houses, castles, or urban fortifications where the main gate functioned as a separate architectural element from the smaller interior door.

Modern usage: In contemporary German, Haustor is relatively uncommon outside of specialized contexts and literary or historical writing. It may also appear as a proper noun in some cases, including family names or place names, though such uses are not tied to a standard meaning.

See also: Haustür; Tür; Tor; Architektur; Eingang.