Porter Definition

pôrtər
porters
noun
porters
A doorkeeper or gatekeeper.
Webster's New World
The lowest of the four minor orders.
Webster's New World
A person who carries luggage, etc. for hire or as an attendant at a railroad station, hotel, etc.
Webster's New World
A maintenance worker for a building or institution.
American Heritage
A railroad employee who waits on passengers in a sleeper or parlor car.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
verb
To serve as a porter, to carry.
Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Porter

Noun

Singular:
porter
Plural:
porters

Origin of Porter

  • Middle English portour from Anglo-Norman from Late Latin portātor from Latin portāre to carry per-2 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English from Anglo-Norman from Late Latin portārius from Latin porta gate per-2 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Anglo-Norman portour, from Old French porteor, from Latin portātor, from past participle of portare (“to carry")

    From Wiktionary

  • From Anglo-Norman portour, from Old French portier, from Late Latin portarius (“gatekeeper"), from porta (“gate").

    From Wiktionary

  • Short for porter's ale (probably so called because it was favored by laborers in the 1700s)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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