port¹ (pôrt, pōrt)
n.

1. (Abbr. Pt.)
   1. A place on a waterway with facilities for loading and unloading ships.
   2. A city or town on a waterway with such facilities.
   3. The waterfront district of a city.
2. A place along a coast that gives ships and boats protection from storms and rough water; a harbor.
3. A port of entry.

[Middle English, from Old English, from Latin portus.]

port² (pôrt, pōrt)
n.
The left-hand side of a ship or aircraft facing forward. Also called larboard.

adj.
Of, relating to, or on the port.

tr. & intr.v., port·ed, port·ing, ports.
To turn (a craft) or make a shift to the port side: port the helm; ported sharply to avoid a shoal.

[Probably from port side, from PORT¹.]

port³ (pôrt, pōrt)
n.

1. Nautical.
   1. An opening in a ship's side providing access to the interior.
   2. A porthole.
   3. Archaic. A cover for a porthole.
2. An opening, as in a cylinder or valve face, for the passage of steam or fluid.
3. A hole in an armored vehicle or a fortified structure for viewing or for firing weapons.
4. 1. An entrance to or exit from a data network.
   2. A connection point for a peripheral device.
5. Scots. A gateway or portal, as to a town.

tr.v., port·ed, port·ing, ports.
Computer Science. To modify (software) for use on a different machine or platform.

[Middle English, gate, porthole, from Old French porte, gate, from Latin porta.]

port⁵ (pôrt, pōrt)
tr.v., port·ed, port·ing, ports.
To hold or carry (a weapon) diagonally across the body, with the muzzle or blade near the left shoulder.

n.

1. The position of a rifle or other weapon when ported.
2. The manner in which one carries oneself; bearing.

[French porter, to carry, from Old French, from Latin portāre. N., Middle English porte, from Old French port, from porter, to carry.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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