Obs.; prop. written separately a doors; less commonly a door. A phonetic reduction apparently of both of doors, o’ doors (see A prep.2), and at doors (cf. a-do); common 6–8 in the phrases forth a doors, out a doors, in a doors, for which also the full forms occur.
1526. Tindale, John xii. 31. Nowe shall the prynce off this worlde be cast out a dores.
1532. More, Conf. Barnes, viii. Wks. 1557, 804/2. Ye shall beare no part of that flesh foorth a dores.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 393. Charitie driueth feare out a doores.
1607. Topsell, Four-footed Beasts (1673), 487. He taketh one … and draweth him in adoors.
1647. R. Stapylton, Juvenal, 38. Out a’ doore I’m hurld.
1675. Hobbes, Odyssey, 51. She saw him coming in a door. Ibid., 204. And with two dogs at’s heels went out a door.
1777. Sheridan, Trip to Scarb., III. iii. 504. Here, run in a-doors quickly.
Cf. the full phrases:
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., C. 268. In at a munster dor.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., IV. iv. 36. Driuen out of doores with it when I goe from home.
a. 1593. Marlowe, Jew of Malta, II. ii. 283. As you went in at doors.
a. 1654. Gataker, Spirit. Watch 79 (T.). She would not go out at doors.
