Originally, a covered porch with seats, at a house door; the
   Dutch stoep as introduced by the Dutch into New York. Afterward, an
   out-of-door flight of stairs of from seven to fourteen steps, with
   platform and parapets, leading to an entrance door some distance above
   the street; the French perron. Hence, any porch, platform, entrance
   stairway, or small veranda, at a house door.