stairgate

stair +‎ gate

stairgate (plural stairgates)

1. A gate fitted across a domestic staircase to prevent young children from climbing the stairs, or falling down them.
   • 1979, Brian Jackson, Sonia Jackson, Childminder: A Study in Action Research:

     Perhaps she has to buy a new stairgate, fireguard, or fit in a lamp. This may be a big dip in her purse, but in this financial comparison it is trivial.

   • 1991, “The Children Act: Guidance and Regulations”, in Health, Department:

     There should be a stairgate and the door to the garden should be secured so that children cannot get out unsupervised […]

   • 2004, Richard Hallows, Full Time Father, page 46:

     At this point you realise that you're also on edge because the kids don't know this house, and the eldest might be sleepwalking and there are no stairgates […]

• stair gate