sport one's oak
sport one's oak · sports one's oak · sported one's oak · sporting one's oak
To close one's door as an indication that visitors are not welcomeTo close one's door (originally the outer door of one's set of rooms in a college) as an indication that visitors are not welcome.
UK/ˌspɔːt wʌnz ˈəʊk/US/ˌspoɹt wʌnz ˈoʊk/
Meaning
1 senses(dated)To close one's door (originally the outer door of one's set of rooms in a college) as an indication that visitors are not welcome.
Origin
From sport (“(archaic) to close or shut (a door)”) and oak (“outer (lockable) door of a seFrom sport (“(archaic) to close or shut (a door)”) and oak (“outer (lockable) door of a set of rooms in a college (especially of the University of Cambridge or University of Oxford) or similar institution, especially one made of oak wood”). Compare French trouver visage de bois (“to find no one at home”, literally “to find a wooden face (that is, the door)”).
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Forms
sports one's oak, sporting one's oak, sported one's oak, sported one's oak| Base form | sport one's oak · to sport one's oak |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | sports one's oak |
| Present participle | sporting one's oak |
| Past simple | sported one's oak |
| Past participle | sported one's oak |
irregular
Synonyms
1 synonymsWord family
1 related wordsRelatedsporting door
Lessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle