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Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

porte pleine

English translation:

solid wooden door

Added to glossary by Emma Paulay
Jan 16, 2009 17:45
15 yrs ago
2 viewers *
French term

porte pleine

French to English Other Furniture / Household Appliances Description of cabinet doors
Just need to check as client wants me to translate this as "full door". It's describing a wooden door as opposed to a glass one. I didn't translate "pleine" because to me, unless you stipulate glass, you mean "full". I'd be grateful for any thoughts.

The only link I found with "full door" was for a full height, glass door...
Proposed translations (English)
3 +2 solid door
4 +1 plain door
4 +1 unglazed door
4 +1 solid panel door
3 full-door / full door
3 slab door
4 -2 solid-core door
References
Full door

Discussion

Emma Paulay (asker) Jan 18, 2009:
After all that, could just "door" swing it? :-)) As I said, my preference here is for just "door", because I don't think we stipulate anything for this type of furniture in short sales descriptions for the general public in En. For interior/exterior doors and other descriptions then more detail is probably required. Here's a link to the sort of thing I'm working on. Does anyone have any strong opinions about not translating "pleine" at all and just saying "door" as below? My text also mentions the finish, as here:
http://www.heals.co.uk/Furniture/Moda-3-Door-Sideboard-Range...
Emma Paulay (asker) Jan 18, 2009:
Type of Doors The doors I'm talking about are on living room or bedroom furniture (I'm sorry I didn't stipulate that in the question). Hence my worry that "full" would imply full height, when in fact some are at the bottom of a book shelf, with open shelves above, so they're "portes pleines" but they're not full height.
MatthewLaSon Jan 17, 2009:
I'm calling it quits now I think that "solid door" is fine now and so is "solid panel door." My father knows a lot about doors and said the two are really synonymous. I didn't realize that "solid door" was used that much.

Anyways, if the French meant "unglazed doors" why didn't they just say "portes non-vitrées" in constrast to "portes vitrées? I mean "pleine" clearly means "solid." You can't dispute that.

Humility is dead on ProZ.
Tony M Jan 17, 2009:
I think you're misunderstanding your own ref. Matt, the link you gave below about glazed vs. unglazed doors is a total red herring; it is referring to doors being glazed or not at the time of purchase — i.e. you can buy a door that has not yet had the glasss fitted, but it will become a 'glazed door' as soon as you have had (your own choice of) glass fitted into it.

Nothing at all to do with the present discusssion!
Tony M Jan 17, 2009:
What's ambiguous about a 'solid panel door'... ...is not the fact of being 'solid', but 'panel', since a 'panel door' has a quite specific meaning in door terminology — and it's not what is needed here!

There is a big difference between a 'panel door' and 'a door which is formed as a single panel'
MatthewLaSon Jan 17, 2009:
Example of unglazed door in my link in my Explanation box.<BR><BR>Unglazed doors are not necessarily "solid panel doors." What's ambiguous about a solid panel door, by the way? What other kind of "solid" doors would you have in your home then if they are not solid panel doors? <BR><BR>

Unglazed doors are not necessarily "pleines".
MatthewLaSon Jan 16, 2009:
WE must because unglazed doors could let light in somehow, solid panel doors cannot.<BR><BR>I don't know what you're arguing about.<BR><BR>I don't mean windows. Unglazed doors don't have windows, but they could let light in somehow. That's not the case with "portes pleines."
Tony M Jan 16, 2009:
... I think we must live on different planets...
MatthewLaSon Jan 16, 2009:
No like translucent panels <BR><BR>Light cannot go through a "porte pleine", EVER. It could with a unglazed door. So, it can't be that, either. If it's not a solid panel door, then it's some strange kind of door that is unique to France and no one else in the world knows about. LOL.
Tony M Jan 16, 2009:
Unglazed... with windows? Are you trying to say that they simply have holes, but with no glass in...?
MatthewLaSon Jan 16, 2009:
Oh really, Tony There are plenty of unglazed doors with openings for light. Solid doors have none. No contradiction here. That's an obvious fact and there is no UK/US difference or with Australia, either.
Tony M Jan 16, 2009:
What DO you mean, Matt? Surely an 'unglazed door' means it hasn't got any glass in it... so how can you then say that "an unglazed door can have windows"??? You seem to be contradicting yourself...
MatthewLaSon Jan 16, 2009:
unglazed door It can't be an unglazed door, either, because an unglazed door can have windows (letting light through), making them "not solid."

MatthewLaSon Jan 16, 2009:
pleine Pleine = solid (there is no way around it) <BR>The design or style is totally irrelevant here.<BR><BR>Solid doors is close, but no bouquet. They are solid panel doors. <BR><BR>A plain door could be all glass, and that can't be the case for a "portes pleines" as they are often constrasted with "portes vitrées."<BR>

Proposed translations

+2
3 mins
Selected

solid door

the term can be used for a wooden door

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Note added at 28 mins (2009-01-16 18:14:10 GMT)
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www.solidhardwooddoors.com/
Buy direct from the solid wood door manufacturer and save! Your best source for solid hardwood interior doors and exterior wood doors.
Note from asker:
Thanks for being so quick. I'm just a bit afraid this might suggest that other doors are flimsy
Peer comment(s):
agree Alain Pommet : 'solid wooden door' might make it even clearer there wasn't a glass component
2 mins
solid wooden door or solid wood door could be fine too. thanks
agree Jean-Louis S.
8 mins
Thanks
disagree kashew : I agree with Alan P: solid wooden door. "Solid door" doesn't mean very much.
15 mins
disagree Tony M : I don't think there's any real danger of it being taken as in opposition to 'flimsy' — but it does suggest more about the thickness than anything else; and after all, these might still be chipboard doors, so not 'solid wood' at all!
22 mins
agree MatthewLaSon : Yep. "Solid door" or "solid panel door" are both fine. Good job!
1 hr
Thank you
agree ArabellaCE (X) : agree with Pommet and Kashew - from having dealt with issue personally with builders merchants in France while house renovating
2 hrs
Thank you
neutral Mark Nathan : agree with Tony - most doors these days seem pretty flimsy (or may be it's the bee pollen for breakfast)
6 hrs
Something went wrong...
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "The British branch of the company came back with this, so I can't argue with that! Thanks to all!"
-2
4 mins

solid-core door

If we are talking about an entry door to a house or a room within the house, there are wooden doors that are made of solid wood, and those made of a frame covered in plywood. The former are "solid-core", or "solid-wood" doors, the latter are "hollow-core" doors.

There are further distinctions of the former, like panel-doors. I hope all this helps.
Peer comment(s):
disagree Tony M : In the particular context as given, this wouldn't work, I'm afraid.
14 mins
right, I didn't see "cabinet", thanks.
disagree kashew : Like Tony.
16 mins
right: i didn't see "cabinet", thanks.
Something went wrong...
23 mins

full-door / full door

Almost despite my better judgment, based on the research just done and given in my reference posting, I have to say this does look like a viable alternative. [Still prefer solid door really]

http://www.apofficefurniture.com/apstoragefurniture.htm

Right pedestal with central locking file, center
and pencil drawer and work surface extension;
left pedestal with lockable full door cabinet
with a removable unit holding two solid
dovetailed CD drawers, CPU storage, built-in
surge protector, and a work surface extension,
center desk drop front keyboard drawer.
http://jespersen.us/Shearwater_pricelist.pdf

My sense is that it is used to denote a full door as opposed to a half door, not necessarily one in which there is a glass panel.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Tony M : I agree with your last remark: 'full' is usually used to mean it is either full height, full width, or covers the whole of a cabinet, for example.
3 mins
I agree with my last remark, too!!
Something went wrong...
+1
23 mins

plain door

I encountered an almost identical problem the other day, and this was the solution I ended up with, and my client validated.

The trouble is, it's not 'full' in the sense of 'not partial'; neither is it in the sense of 'not empty'!

'Solid' would be OK, except that it tends to suggest 'not hollow', which is not really the issue here; we're not referring to the thickness of the door, but rather, the face of it.

But 'plain' works pretty well here, since it is in opposition to any other kind of door that might be more 'fancy', like a 'glazed door', etc. This also works well in terms of things like price lists, where the 'plain', basic door is usually the simplest and hence cheapest one.
Peer comment(s):
agree Helen Shiner : This is officially my favourite solution! Yes, plain instead of glazed.
7 mins
Thanks, Helen! :-)
agree kashew
34 mins
Thanks, J!
agree Assimina Vavoula
36 mins
Efharisto, Assimina! Ti kaneis?
disagree MatthewLaSon : And that could be a plain glass door, which can't be the case here. "Portes pleines" are often talked about in contrast to "portes vitrées". That can't be right. A plain door could clearly be a plain glass door. It has nothing to do with style, anyways.
1 hr
I think that 'plain' alone would never be interpreted as 'glass', unless it specifically SAID 'plain GLASS door' / Did anyone mention style? Certainly not ME!
neutral Mary Carroll Richer LaFlèche : plain means not ornate, and this isn't mentioned in the question
1 hr
'plain' can mean 'not lots of things' — most often, it means 'not fancy / complicated'. I think if the context is clear, there is no risk of ambiguity.
neutral Mark Nathan : agree with Mary that this might introduce confusion about decorative elements
5 hrs
I think it all depends on if it appears in isolation, or is in a list with other items, which would eliminate any possible ambiguity: plain vs. glazed doors, for example.
disagree Theodora OB : plain has other connotations and I agree with Matthew's comments
1 day 54 mins
Fair enough — but I wonder just how many kitchens you've actually fitted yourself, Theodroa? This is an area in which I have practical experience...
Something went wrong...
1 hr

slab door

Here in USA, we call those sorts of cabinet doors (in a kitchen) "slab doors", even "clean, slab doors", because they give a "clean" look as well as being easy to clean.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Tony M : Certainly wouldn't work in the UK, I'm afraid.
1 hr
Something went wrong...
+1
3 hrs

unglazed door

Seems to me the only unambiguous solution.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2009-01-16 20:55:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I find no definition of "porte pleine" in my customary sources and feel that in French it could (unless the context is clear) be taken to mean "porte plane" (flush door), solid-core door, or unglazed door.

This range covers four different styles incuding both GLAZED AND UNGLAZED DOORS that are simple yet beautifully designed and ideal for a contemporary look ...
www.woodfloorblog.com/category/wood-doors/

Doors/Door Hardware: Internal, external, softwood, hardwood doors, GLAZED AND UNGLAZED DOORS, fire doors louvre doors, door frames, door linings, ...
sitebuilder.yell.com/sb/show.do?p=additional&n=1&id=SB0002418101000150


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2009-01-16 21:44:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

@Matthew : A "solid" door with an oculus is still a glazed door.

glazed door - A door with a large or small window or a vision panel
[Soctt/Penguin Dict of Bldg]

glazed door - 1. Any door that has top and bottom rails and is glazed [to what extent not specified] 2. A French door.
French door, casement door, door window - A door having a top rail, bottom rail, and stiles, which has glass panes throughout (or nearly throughout) its entire length; often used in pairs.
[Dict. of Arch. & Const., ed Cyril M Harris, McGHill]

Hence an "UNglazed" door cannot have windows.
Peer comment(s):
disagree MatthewLaSon : No light can go through a "porte pleine". Light could go through an unglazed door somehow (translucent pane, etc).
30 mins
See above / Hairsplitting. Asker specifically refers to glass and a "wooden door".
agree Tony M : Yes, 'plain, unglazed door' would probably do nicely; I have come across the term a lot in 'real life', along with the equivalent use of 'plein' with things other than doors (e.g. 'panneau plein'). / I don't think 'plain' necessarily means 'not fancy'
35 mins
Not "plain". An unglazed door could be sculpted, have mouldings, be diamond-encrusted ... ;-) /Agreed, "not necessarily", but it could be ambiguous, depending on context.
agree Mark Nathan : seems the best option if it is as opposed to glass doors
2 hrs
neutral ormiston : unglazed did seem right but here are pictures of doors designated as unglazed: http://www.acecarpentrylondon.co.uk/unglazed internal.htm
17 hrs
Indeed, if you look at the "glased doors" it is clear that the "unglazed doors" here are "glazed doors prior to glazing".
Something went wrong...
+1
1 hr

solid panel door

Hello,

What manufacturer is going to call a type of door "plain doors"? Come on!

pleine = solid panel

full panel door = http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.busytrade....

This link in French makes it pretty clear:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.devisprest...
















--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-01-16 19:03:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

It has nothing to do with it's design. It just means that it's solid panel (no light comes through)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2009-01-16 22:10:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

There's nothing ambiguous about solid panel doors, whether they are made of wood, metal, etc. All solid doors are panel doors, what else would they be? Enlighten me.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2009-01-17 00:26:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.doorwareho...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2009-01-17 00:27:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Now after having looking at this webpage, can you say that unglazed door is a solid door panel? I think not.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Helen Shiner : http://www.kabt.co.uk/kitchendoors/excelgloss/excelkitchendo...
6 mins
Ok, there are "plain doors", but that's not what this is, imo. The idea is that there is a solid panel that no light can to go through. There are many different styles of a solid panel doors. A "plain door" could be a glass door.
agree Mary Carroll Richer LaFlèche : clear!
37 mins
Thanks, Mary! I appreciate it.
neutral Tony M : But 'panel door' (solid or otherwise) risks creating a whole new ambiguity / But that's just the point: 'panel door' does generally imply something about its style; if you have links that prove otherwise, why not post them for all to see?
1 hr
I don't think so. It's clear from the links I visited that we are not dealing with a plain door. A plain door is not necessarily a solid door. It's pretty clear it's a solid panel door. Its style is clearly irrevelant.
neutral ormiston : Here we have solid + (un)glazed in pictures http://www.wimbledonpine.co.uk/showfaq_style.asp?fldAuto=112...
19 hrs
I'm afraid that just mean "solid panel door." It can't that complicated. The term is on a site selling doors to French consumers for their homes. Alos, there aren't that many different kind of "solid doors".They don't make doors that differently in France
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

6 mins
Reference:

Full door

To be honest, Emma, I completely agree with you, though solid door is probably absolutely acceptable, but just so you know here is an example of 'full door' being used in the same sense:

http://www.aussieofficefurniture.com.au/category24_1.htm

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Note added at 9 mins (2009-01-16 17:54:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Some other examples:

http://www.katom.com/true-all-stainless-steel-full-door-free...

http://www.onestopshopcatalog.com/7083-00-michr.html

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Note added at 17 mins (2009-01-16 18:02:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

There are now so many examples, I think I'd better post this as an answer!

http://victoriafurnitures.com/index.php?main_page=product_in...



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Note added at 30 mins (2009-01-16 18:15:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Yes, the non-UK term might be the point - I'd also not heard it used in this way. I think we would say 'full-length' instead of 'half-length', but it may explain where your client has got it from.
Note from asker:
OK. Thanks for that Helen.
All non-UK refs. Which is maybe why I'd never heard the term used in this way...Thanks again.
Peer comments on this reference comment:
neutral Tony M : The trouble is, 'full door' is often used in opposition to, for example, 'half-door'
11 mins
Something went wrong...
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