[f. FORE- pref. + DOOR.] A door in the front of a building, a front-door. Now rare.
1581. Lambarde, Eirenarcha, II. vii. (1588), 295. A felon fled to the house of his naturall brother, who shut the fore-dore against them yt pursued the felon, & conveied him out of the house by a backe dore, whereby he got to the Church: and this brother was adiudged an accessarie for it.
1674. trans. Scheffer’s Lapland, 84. Every Tent had two doors, one, a foredoor, and the other, a backward; the former bigger and more ordinarily used, the latter less, through which they use to bring in their provisions.
1696. J. Edwards, Exist. & Provid. of God, II. 20. With the Mouth (that so visible and useful Fore-door of this our humane Habitation) we take in food and drink: and that it may not only receive, but hold and contain the former of these till it be well masticated, it is Hollow and Capacious.
1761. Brit. Mag., II. Oct., 558/2. The rogues were in no hurry, as they drank tea, and some bottles of wine, and fastened the fore-door before they left the house.
1811. W. Aiton, Agric. Surv. Ayr, 115. The principal door by which the family and cattle entered, was named the fore door.
