GATE, in architecture, a large door, leading or giving entrance into a city, town, castle, palace, or other considerable building; or a place giving passage to persons, horses, coaches, or waggons, &c. As to their proportion, the principal gates for entrance thro' which coaches and waggons are to pass, ought never to be less than seven feet in breadth, nor more than 12, which last dimension is fit only for large buildings. The height of a gate is to be 1\frac{1}{2} of the breadth, and somewhat more; but as for common gates in inns, under which waggons go loaded with hay, straw, &c. the height of them may be twice their breadth. See ARCHITECTURE.