Part 417

And of his port as meek as is a maid.

Chaucer.

The necessities of pomp, grandeur, and a suitable port in the world.

South.

Port, n. [Etymology uncertain.] (Naut.) The larboard or left side of a ship (looking from the stern toward the bow); as, a vessel heels to port. See Note under Larboard. Also used adjectively.

Port, v. t. (Naut.) To turn or put to the left or larboard side of a ship; -- said of the helm, and used chiefly in the imperative, as a command; as, port your helm.

||Por"ta (?), n.; pl. PortÊ (#). [L., a gate. See Port a hole.] (Anat.) ||(a) The part of the liver or other organ where its vessels and nerves ||enter; the hilus. (b) The foramen of Monro. B. G. Wilder.

Port`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being portable; fitness to be carried.

Port"a*ble (?), a. [L. portabilis, fr. portare to carry: cf. F. portable. See Port demeanor.] 1. Capable of being borne or carried; easily transported; conveyed without difficulty; as, a portable bed, desk, engine. South.

2. Possible to be endured; supportable. [Obs.]

How light and portable my pain seems now!

Shak.

Portable forge. See under Forge. -- Portable steam engine. See under Steam engine.

Port"a*ble*ness, n. The quality or state of being portable; portability.

Por"tace (?; 48), n. See Portass. [Obs.]

Port"age (?; 48), n. [From 2d Port.] (Naut.) (a) A sailor's wages when in port. (b) The amount of a sailor's wages for a voyage.

Port"age, n. [3d Port.] A porthole. [Obs.] Shak.

Por"tage (?), n. [F., from porter to carry. See Port to carry.] 1. The act of carrying or transporting.

2. The price of carriage; porterage. Bp. Fell.

3. Capacity for carrying; tonnage. [Obs.] Hakluyt.

4. A carry between navigable waters. See 3d Carry.

Por"tage (?), v. t. & i. To carry (goods, boats, etc.) overland between navigable waters.

Por"tage group` (?). [So called from the township of Portage in New York.] (Geol.) A subdivision of the Chemung period in American geology. See Chart of Geology.

Por"ta*gue (?), n. [See Portuguese.] A Portuguese gold coin formerly current, and variously estimated to be worth from three and one half to four and one half pounds sterling. [Obs.] [Written also portegue and portigue.]

Ten thousand portagues, besides great pearls.

Marlowe.

Por"tal (?), n. [OF. portal, F. portail, LL. portale, fr. L. porta a gate. See Port a gate.] 1. A door or gate; hence, a way of entrance or exit, especially one that is grand and imposing.

Thick with sparkling orient gems The portal shone.