sally port

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a small gate or passage in a fortified place through which defenders can make a sortie

   The soldiers slipped through the sally port before dawn to surprise the besiegers.

2. 2
   noun

   a secure controlled entrance, especially at a prison or courthouse, with doors or gates that open in sequence

   The transport van entered the jail through a locked sally port.

From sally, 'a sudden rush or sortie from a defended position,' plus port in its older sense 'gate or entrance.' Sally came through French saillie from saillir, 'to leap or rush out,' while port in this sense comes from Latin porta, 'gate.' The closed spelling sallyport is also attested.

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