Meaning
The entry fee to get into a dance, party, stage show, or event — 'pay di gate'. 'Gate money' is what's collected at the door, and a 'free gate' event has no entry fee. To 'run di gate' is to collect the entry money. It is a familiar part of the economy of dances and shows, where the gate takings are a main source of the promoter's return.
Examples
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Di gate money a five hundred dollar.
The entry fee is five hundred dollars.
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Pay di gate before yuh go inna di dance.
Pay the entry fee before you go into the dance.
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Free gate tonight, everybody come!
Free entry tonight, everybody come!
Origin
From 'gate' (the entrance) + 'money'; the event entry fee. See [[bashment]], [[dancehall]].
How it’s used
The entry fee to a dance/show ('pay di gate'). See [[bashment]], [[bar-be-que]].