Definition

Noun: A gateleg table is a type of drop-leaf table. Its defining feature is that its drop leaves (the side sections that can be folded down) are supported by legs that swing out like gates on hinges when the leaves are raised.

Usage

A gateleg table is a piece of furniture. It is used to describe a specific, historical design of table that saves space when not fully extended. - The antique dealer specialized in restoring 18th-century gateleg tables. - We need a space-saving dining solution; perhaps a gateleg table would work.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in antique collecting, furniture history, and interior design to specify this particular mechanical design, distinguishing it from other drop-leaf tables with different support mechanisms (e.g., brackets, butterfly leaves).

Variants and Related Words

• Drop-leaf table (n): The general category of tables to which a gateleg table belongs. All gateleg tables are drop-leaf tables, but not all drop-leaf tables are gateleg tables.
• Gate leg (n): The swinging leg itself that supports the leaf. Often used interchangeably with "gateleg table" in casual conversation.

Synonyms

• Drop-leaf table (This is a broader synonym; it specifies the function but not the specific supporting mechanism.)
• Swing-leg table (A less common, descriptive synonym.)

Related Idioms or Phrases

There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated with this concrete noun.

Noun

1. a drop-leaf table with the drop-leaves supported by hinged legs