One of the things I love about "the internets" is the ready availability of answers. Answers in pictures, even. A virtual, day or night, daily updated encyclopedia.
Last night, for instance. I'm reading For Love, by Sue Miller. The heroine keeps mentioning the "porte cochere" on her neighbor's house. Its part of the story.
What the heck is a porte cochere?
I get out of bed. Sit at keyboard. Open Google. Type 12 letters in the long blank box. Hit return. Voila.
French for "coach door," it says. "The architectural term for a porch or portico-like structure at a main or secondary entrance to a building, through which it is possible for a horse and carriage or motor vehicle to pass, in order for the occupants to alight under cover, protected from the weather."
So one of those side-of-house car port thingies.
Oh, but wrong, continues my other late night resource, Wiki.
"Porte-cochères should not be confused with carports in which vehicles are parked; at a porte-cochère the vehicle merely passes through, stopping only for a passenger to get out."
So now I know.
Back to the story.
