A gate is a point of entry or exit in a walled or fenced space, with the word originating from the Proto-Germanic gatan, meaning an opening or passageway—and originally referring to the gap itself, not the barrier that closes it. Gates serve to control, prevent, or decorate passage, and their moving parts (often called doors) can be operated manually or automatically, using latches, locks, and hinges for security and function. They range from small safety devices like baby gates and badger gates to massive structures such as city gates, castle portcullises, and watergates, with specialized pedestrian types including kissing gates, turnstiles, and slip gates. Culturally, gates hold significant architectural meaning worldwide, as seen in Japanese torii, Chinese pailou, Indian torana, and Korean hongsalmun, which are often integrated into gardens and religious sites. Larger gates are integral to fortified towns and castles, often housed within gatehouses, and the article also touches on related concepts like barricades, border crossings, and triumphal arches.