port

port

port¹ [pôrt]

n.

[ME < OFr & OE < L portus, haven, entrance: see FORD]

1. a harbor

2. a city or town with a harbor where ships can load and unload cargo

3. PORT OF ENTRY

port² [pôrt]

n.

[after Oporto, city in Portugal]

a sweet, usually dark-red, fortified wine

port³ [pôrt]

vt.

[MFr porter < L portare, to carry: see FARE]

1. Now Rare to carry

2. to carry, hold, or place (a rifle or sword) in front of one, diagonally upward from right to left, as for inspection

n.

[ME porte < MFr < the v.]

1. the manner in which one carries oneself; carriage

2. the position of a ported weapon

port⁴ [pôrt]

n.

[< PORT¹: so named because the side toward the port (dock), since the steering oar (see STARBOARD) prevented docking to the right]

the left-hand side of a ship, boat, or airplane as one faces forward: opposed to STARBOARD

adj.

1. of or on this side

2. designating a sailing tack on which the wind passes over the port side

vt., vi.

to move or turn (the helm) to the port side

port⁵ [pôrt]

n.

[ME < OFr porte < L porta, door, akin to portus: see PORT¹]

1. Now Scot. a portal; gateway, esp. to a town or city

2.

a) PORTHOLE

b) a porthole covering

3. an opening, as in a cylinder face or valve face, for the passage of steam, gas, water, etc.

4.

a) Electronics a place at which energy or signals enter or leave a device, circuit, etc.

b) Comput. the circuit, outlet, etc. which serves as a connection between a computer and its peripheral