Threshold (architecture)
– Etymology:
– Various false etymologies of the word exist, dating back to Old English.
– Different forms of the word in Old English suggest an obscure original meaning.
– Modern dictionaries do not reflect the latest etymological research on the word.
– Linguist Anatoly Liberman suggests the term originally referred to a threshing area.
– The semantic evolution from a threshing area to denoting a doorway entrance is unclear.
– Cultural Symbolism:
– In Poland, Ukraine, and Russia, it is considered bad luck to shake hands or kiss across the threshold.
– Carrying the bride over the threshold is seen as good luck in many countries.
– References:
– Wikimedia Commons has media related to Door sills.
– “Our habitat: the etymology of threshold” – OUPblog, 2015.
– Polish Superstitions – Polish Language.org.
– Russian Superstition – Russian language for lovers.
– “Carrying the Bride: Exactly Why?” – How Stuff Works, 2008.
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– Doors
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– Sociology stubs
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– Articles with unsourced statements from November 2020
– Commons category link is on Wikidata
A threshold is the sill of a door. Some cultures attach special symbolism to a threshold. It is called a door saddle in New England.[citation needed]
Door thresholds cover the gap between the floor and the door frame, helping to prevent any water leaks, insects or draughts from entering through the opening.