porter

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: por=ter

CIDE DICTIONARY

porter, n. [F. portier, L. portarius, from porta a gate, door. See Port a gate.].

 A man who has charge of a door or gate; a doorkeeper; one who waits at the door to receive messages.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
"To him the porter openeth."  [1913 Webster]

porter, n. [F. porteur, fr. porter to carry, L. portare. See Port to carry.].

•  A carrier; one who carries or conveys burdens, luggage, etc.; for hire.  [1913 Webster]
•  A bar of iron or steel at the end of which a forging is made; esp., a long, large bar, to the end of which a heavy forging is attached, and by means of which the forging is lifted and handled in hammering and heating; -- called also porter bar.  [1913 Webster]
•  A malt liquor, of a dark color and moderately bitter taste, possessing tonic and intoxicating qualities.  [1913 Webster]

  " Porter is said to be so called as having been first used chiefly by the London porters, and this application of the word is supposed to be not older than 1750."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

porter, n.
1 a a person employed to carry luggage etc., esp. a railway, airport, or hotel employee. b a hospital employee who moves equipment, trolleys, etc.
2 a dark-brown bitter beer brewed from charred or browned malt (app. orig. made esp. for porters).
3 US a sleeping-car attendant.

Derivative

porterage n.

porter, n. Brit. a gatekeeper or doorkeeper, esp. of a large building.

Etymology

ME & AF, OF portier f. LL portarius f. porta door

THESAURUS

porter

Aquarius, Ganymede, Hebe, baggage man, bakehead, bearer, bheesty, brakeman, brakie, busboy, butcher, caddie, caretaker, cargo handler, carrier, carrier pigeon, carter, cerberus, cleaner, common carrier, concierge, conductor, conveyer, coolie, cupbearer, dispatcher, doorkeeper, doorman, drayman, express, expressman, fireman, footplate man, freighter, gatekeeper, guard, gun bearer, hauler, homing pigeon, janitor, letter carrier, lineman, litter-bearer, ostiary, railroad man, railroader, receptionist, redcap, shield-bearer, skycap, smoke agent, stationmaster, stevedore, stoker, stretcher-bearer, super, superintendent, switchman, the Water Bearer, trainboy, trainman, trainmaster, transporter, truck driver, trucker, usher, wagoner, warden, watchman, water boy, water carrier, yardman, yardmaster

ROGET THESAURUS

porter

Stopper

N stopper, stopple, plug, cork, bung, spike, spill, stopcock, tap, rammer, ram, ramrod, piston, stop-gap, wadding, stuffing, padding, stopping, dossil, pledget, tompion, tourniquet, cover, valve, vent peg, spigot, slide valve, janitor, doorkeeper, porter, warder, beadle, cerberus, ostiary.

Carrier

N carrier, porter, bearer, tranter, conveyer, cargador, express, expressman, stevedore, coolie, conductor, locomotive, motor, beast, beast of burden, cattle, horse, nag, palfrey, Arab, blood horse, thoroughbred, galloway, charger, courser, racer, hunter, jument, pony, filly, colt, foal, barb, roan, jade, hack, bidet, pad, cob, tit, punch, roadster, goer, racehorse, pack horse, draft horse, cart horse, dray horse, post horse, ketch, Shetland pony, shelty, sheltie, garran, garron, jennet, genet, bayard, mare, stallion, gelding, bronco, broncho, cayuse, creature, critter, cow pony, mustang, Narraganset, waler, stud, Pegasus, Bucephalus, Rocinante, ass, donkey, jackass, mule, hinny, sumpter horse, sumpter mule, burro, cuddy, ladino, reindeer, camel, dromedary, llama, elephant, carrier pigeon, pallet, brace, cart, dolley, support, fork lift, carriage, ship, equine, asinine.