Doorsill - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A doorsill is the horizontal piece at the bottom of a doorway, often made of wood or stone, that forms the entrance's threshold and helps support the door frame.
Definition:
The horizontal piece at the bottom of a doorway, stepped on when entering a building.
Synonyms:
threshold, doorstep, entrance
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
exit, roof
Common Collocations:
wooden doorsill, step over the doorsill, clean the doorsill
Derivatives:
doorsills (plural), doorsilled (adjective)
Usage Tips:
Use "doorsill" to refer specifically to the base of a doorway; avoid confusion with "threshold," which can be metaphorical.
Common Phrases:
cross the doorsill, stand on the doorsill, wipe your feet on the doorsill
Etymology:
Derived from Old English "duru" (door) + "syll" (sill), meaning the base of a door frame.
Examples:
- 1. She tripped over the wooden doorsill while entering the house.
- 2. The cat sat lazily on the doorsill, watching birds outside.
- 3. He wiped his muddy boots carefully on the doorsill before stepping inside.
- 4. A welcome mat lay just beyond the weathered doorsill of the cottage.