Kissing gate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A kissing gate is a gate that allows people, but not livestock, to pass through. The name dates back to at least 1875.[1]
The usual construction consists of a half-round, rectangular, trapezoidal or V-shaped partial enclosure, with the free end of a hinged gate confined between its arms. When the gate rests against one arm, it must be pushed or pulled to allow passage. The user enters the enclosure, then moves the gate across the opening to exit on the other side. Some examples include latches. Most are self-closing, typically set to close away from the pasture, using hinge geometry, a spring or a weight.
Kissing gates form a reliable barrier without requiring secure latching after each use. On footpaths designated as accessible, examples are often replaced, improved or supplemented by other types of gates, as with stiles.
The term kissing gate appears in English from at least the 19th century. The most widely accepted explanation derives from an older meaning of the verb to kiss, meaning to touch lightly or closely, referring to the way the swinging gate leaf comes into contact with, or “kisses”, the surrounding curved enclosure as it moves.[2]
A secondary, more folkloric explanation suggests that the confined space brought two people into close proximity, encouraging a kiss. This is generally regarded as a later popular embellishment rather than the origin of the term.[3]
Criticism
Kissing gates are often criticised for being too narrow to accommodate cyclists, parents using baby buggies, and wheelchair users, particularly in urban areas where livestock control is less necessary.
Sam Brown song
A kissing gate is referenced in the 1990 single “Kissing Gate” by English singer-songwriter Sam Brown. Released from her album April Moon, the song uses the kissing gate as a rural meeting place with romantic connotations. The single reached No. 23 on the UK Singles Chart in 1990.[4][5]
