porridge 
porridge (por'ij), r. ; pret. and pp. porrMged, 
l>|ir. porridging. [< porritlge, w.] I. intrans. 
To take the form of porridge. 
Let ray son Henry provide such peas as will porridge 
well, or else none. Winlhrop, Hist. New England, I. 486. 
II. trans. To provide with porridge. 
porriginous (po-rij'i-nus), a. Of, pertaining 
to, or of the nature of porrigo; affected with 
porrigo. 
porrigo (po-ri'go), n. [L. (> It.porrigiae = F. 
pornfo), scurf, dandruff.] A vague name for 
a number of diseases of the scalp, especially 
tinea favosa, tinea tonsurans, and eczema, 
porringer (por'in-jer), . [Formerly porrenger, 
with inserted n (as in messenger, passenger, 
etc.), < porridge + -er 1 . Partly confused with 
or suggested by pottenger, < pottage. Cf . por- 
ridgc as confused with pottage.'] 1. Originally, 
a porridge-dish; hence, a small vessel deeper 
than a plate or saucer, usually having upright 
sides, a nearly flat bottom, and one or two ears. 
The Charity Meat, which charitable disposed Persons 
send in every Thursday, whereon Earthen Dishes, Porrin- 
iferx, Pans, Wooden Spoons, and Cabbage Nets are Stirring 
about against Dinner Time. 
Quoted in Aihton't Social Life In Reign of Queen Anne, 
[II. 244. 
And often after sunset, sir, 
When It Is light and fair, 
I take my little porringer, 
And eat my supper there. 
Wordtiwrth, We are Seven. 
2f. A head-dress shaped like a porringer: so 
called in jest. 
A haberdasher's wife of small wit . . . rall'd upon me, 
till her pink'd porrinyer fell otf her head. 
Shale., Hen. VIII., v. 4. 60. 
Porro's operation. See operation. 
porrum (por' um), . [NL., < L. porrum, a 
leek, scallion: see porret.'] The bulb of .-//- 
Hum Porrum, the leek, sometimes used in medi- 
cine. 
pony (por'i), H. [Origin obscure.] In near- 
ing, the length of the warp-threads stretched 
out between the heddles or harness and the 
warp-beam. 
porset, " and r. A Middle English form of 
purse. 
porselynt, An obsolete form of porcflain 1 . 
port 1 (port), H. [< ME. port, poort, < AS. port, 
a port, harbor, also a town, city, = MHO. O. 
port = OF. and F. port = Pr. port = Sp. puerto 
= Pg. It. porto, a port, harbor, = W. portli = 
Gael. Ir. ]>ort, a port, ferry, < L. portus (portu-), 
a harbor, haven, fig. a place of refuge, LL. also 
a warehouse, OL. also a liouse ; orig. ' entrance ' ; 
akin to porta, a city gate, a gate, door (seeporft) ; 
with formative -tu, < \f por, go (cf. Or. reopof, a 
way), = E. fare: see /arc 1 . -Cf.porf 3 . Hence 
ult. port 6 ."} 1. A bay, cove, inlet, or recess of 
the sea, or of a lake or the month of a river, 
whore vessels can be protected from storms ; a 
harbor or haven, whether natural or artificial. 
And for the more surer defence y< they shnld not efte 
lande In Kent, prouysyon was made to defende the hauens 
tiU&portyi vpon the sees syde. Fabyan, Chrou., an. 1460. 
And beyonde Qrece, ouer a branche of the see, is Asya, 
wherin almoste at theatre staudynge Troia, with the 
chyef porte the yle of Tenedos. 
Sir R. Qvy(forde, Pylgrymage, p. IS. 
From isles of Greece 
The princes orgulous, their high blood chafed, 
Have to the port of Athens sent their ships. 
Shale., T. and C., ProL 
Farcing his letter with like fustian, calling his own 
court our most happy and shining port, a port of refuge 
for the world. Sandys, Travalles, p. 37. 
2. A place where there is a constant resort of 
vessels for the purpose of loading and unload- 
ing; specifically, in late, a place where persons 
and merchandise are allowed to pass into and 
out of the realm and at which customs officers 
are stationed for the purpose of inspecting or 
appraising imported goods. In this sense a 
port may exist on the frontier, where the foreign 
communication is by land. 
The King has the prerogative of appointing port* and 
havens, or such places only for persons and merchandize 
to pass Into and out of the realm as he in his wisdom sees 
proper. Bladntone, Com., I. vu. 
Under the fierce competition of rival companies, the 
vast shipping business of the Port of London stimulated 
the iicfiiinuliition along the river side of a mass of labour 
underpaid, irregularly employed, (and I Immensely over- 
stocked. Mneteenth Century, XXVI. 72>. 
Barons of the Cinque Ports. See baron. Boston Port 
Bill. See W3._ cinque Ports. See cinque. Close port. 
See <*x3. _ Establishment of the port. See estoMuA- 
ni' nl. Free port, a port where Importations are not sul>- 
ject to any tariff or customs duty on landing. Ilt-nct 1 ttu- 
term has been sometimes used of the like privilege en joyed 
by a class of merchants, or in respect to particular classes 
of goods. Free port is specitlcally applied to a port (such 
291 
4620 
as the Hanse towns, LUbeck, Hamburg, and Bremen, un- 
til 1888), or part of a harbor (such as the Island made for 
the purpose on the Elbe when those cities surrendered 
their privileges as free ports\ where goods are allowed to 
be landed free of all duty, on condition that they be not 
carried thence Into the country without payment of duty, 
the object being to facilitate trattlc by mihipmeht to other 
countries. Port admiral, the admiral commanding at 
a naval port. Port charges, In com., charges to which 
a ship or Its cargo is liable In a harbor, as wharfage, etc. 
Also called port duel. Port Of call, a port at which ves- 
sels are in the habit of touching for repairs, stores, coaJ, 
etc. Port of entry, a port where a custom-house is 
maintained for the entry of goods. Port of recruit 
(nautXa recruiting-station. Fort warden. See warden 
port^t (port), t'. r. [< port 1 , .] To carry or 
bring into port. 
So hoist we 
The sails, that must these vessels port even where 
The heavenly llmlter pleases. 
Fletcher (and another). Two Noble Kinsmen, v. 1. 
port- (port), M. [< ME. port, portf, < AS. port 
= OS. porta = OFries. porte = D. poor* = 
MLG. porte = OHG. porta, phorta, M HG. portf, 
borte, phorte, Q.pforte = Icel. 8w. Dan. port = 
OF. porte, F. porte = 8p. puerUt, OSp. porta = 
Pg. It. porta, a gate, entrance, = W. porth, a 
gate, gateway, = Ir. port, a door, < L. porta, a 
city gate, a gate, door, entrance ; akin to por- 
tus, a harbor, orig. 'entrance'; with formative 
-to,< ^ por, go, = K.fare 1 : seaport 1 . Ct.port*. 
Hence ult. porter 1 , and in comp.7>oi'frMic<>, etc.] 
1. Agate; an entrance; a portal; specifically, 
the gate of a town or fortress. 
So, let the portf be guarded ; keep your duties. 
As I have set them down. Shut., Cor., L 7. 1. 
The mind of man hath two port*, the one always fre- 
quented by the entrance of manifold vanities, the other 
desolate and overgrown with grass, by which enter our 
charitable thoughts and divine contemplations. 
Kaleiijh (Arber's Eng. Uarncr, I. 199)i 
Each order, age, and sex amazed at other, 
And at the port* all thronging out. 
It. .//;.-.,. Catiline, 111. 4. 
Towards the streete, at a back gate, the ptrrt is so hand- 
somely cloath'd with ivy as much pleas'd me. 
Evelyn, Diary, Nov. 2s, 1644. 
2. An opening in the side of a ship; specifi- 
cally, an embrasure in the side of a ship of war, 
through which cannon are pointed; a port-hole; 
also, the covering or shutter of such an opening. 
Ports in merchant ships are square openings In the sides, 
bow, or stern of the vessel for loading and discharging 
cargo or ballast. See cut under lumber-port. 
3. Iii her., the door or gate of a castle, used as 
a bearing. 4. An aperture for the passage of 
steam, air, water, etc. In steam-engines the ports are 
two passages lending from the steam-chest to the inside 
of the cylinder, by means of which the steam enters and re- 
turns above and below the piston : the former is called the 
fteain- or inductittn-port, the latter the exhaust- or educ- 
tion-port. See cut under piston. 
5. In harness, a curved piece of metal used 
as a mouthpiece in some forms of bit. Such a 
bit is called a port-bit. 6. In armor, the socket 
or bucket in which the butt of the lance was 
set when held upright: it was secured to the 
saddle or stirrup Half-port. Same as jwrf-Krf (which 
see, under JWX Port-pendant, a rope spliced through a 
ringbolt on the outside of the lid of a lower-deck port, 
and used to trice up the lid by means of the Uckle In- 
board. Port-sash, a half-port fitted with glass for light- 
lug a cabin. Port-Bill, in a ship, a timber forming the 
frame for a port, and called, according to Its position, 
upper, tide, or lover port-ail. Port-tackleman, one of 
the members of a gun's crew whose duty It Is to trice up 
or swing aside the covering of the port to admit of the free 
training of the gun. Rudder-port, the aperture In a 
ship's counter through which the rudder-head j 
To plate a port. See plate. 
port 2 (port), r. t. [< por ft, n . ] To furnish with 
doors or gates. 
W e took the seven-fold ported Thebes when yet we bad not 
there 
So great helps as our fathers had. Chapman. Iliad, iv. 
port 3 (port), r. t. [< F. porter = Sp. portar = 
It. portare, < L. portare, carry, bear, pnng, con- 
vey, fig. convev, import, betoken ; akin toporta, 
gate, portus, narbor, < ypor, go, = E./ore 1 : 
see port 1 , port 2 , fare 1 . Hence ult. (< L. por- 
tare) in comp. comport, deport, disport (and 
sport), export, import, purport, report, support, 
transport, etc., important, etc., portass, porter*. 
etc.] If. To bear; carry; convey. 
Lady L. Her love and zeal transport her. 
Com. I am glad 
That anything could port her hence. 
R. Jonnon, Magnetick Lady, L 1. 
They (fresh- water coalflsh) are easily parted by boat into 
other shires. Fuller, Worthies, Shropshire, III. SS. 
2. To carry in military fashion; carry (a wea- 
pon, as a rifle) with both hands in a slanting 
direction upward and toward the left, erossing 
the body in front, in execution of the military 
command "Port arms," or, as now given, ''Arms 
port." 
porta 
The angelic squadron bright 
Tum'd fiery red, sharpening In mooned horns 
Their phalanx, and began to hem him round 
With parted spear*. Miltun, V. I.., Ir. MO. 
port 3 (port), M. [< ME. port, poort, < OF. port, 
F. port = Sp. Pg. porte = It. porto, carriage, de- 
meanor; from the verb: t&eporfl, r.] 1. Bear- 
ing; carriage; demeanor; air; mien: ax. tin- 
port of a gentleman. 
Of his port as meke as Is a mayde. 
CAatuxr, (ien. Prol. to C. T., L B. 
Then should the warlike Harry, like himself, 
Assume theporfof Mars. Shot.. Hen. V.. L (cho.). 
Mark well blsfwrf .' his figure and hU face 
Nor speak him vulgar, nor of vulgar race. 
Pope, Iliad, sir. MS. 
The consciousness of a train of great days and victories 
Iwhind. . . . That is it which throws thunder Into Chat- 
ham's voice, aud dignity Into Washington's port. 
EmenoH, Essays, 1st ser. . p. .'2. 
King Arthur, like a modem gentleman 
Of stateliest port. TVimywn, Morte d' Arthur 
2t. State; style; establishment; retinue. 
What time as, most Gracious Prince, your Highness, 
this last year past, took that your most honourable and 
victorious journey into France, accompanied with such a 
portal the Nobility and Yeomanry of England as neither 
hath been like known by experience, nor yet read of In 
history. Ancltam, Toxophllus (ed. 1884 X p. 1. 
Sir, when we lie in garrison, 'tis necessary 
We keep a handsome port, for the king's honour. 
Fletcher, Kule a Wife, Iv. X. 
Many millions of rciieiuie doe besides accrew vnto his 
(the king's) coffers; yet his Part and Magnificence Is not 
so great as of many other Princes. 
Purrha*, Pilgrimage, p. 477. 
= Byn. 1. Deportment, address. 
port 4 (port), c. [Origin uncertain.] I. Iran*. 
A'aut., to turn or shift to the left or larboard 
side of a ship: as, to port the helm (that is, to 
shift the tiller over to the port or left side). 
The William had her sterne post broken, that the rud 
der did hang clean besides the sterne, so that >he could In 
nowlsefwrt her helm. HaUuyfi t'uyaori, I. 448. 
II. intraiis. ,\YiK/.. to turn or shift to the left 
or larboard, as a ship. 
port* (port), H. [See port*, r.] Xaui., the lar- 
board or left side of a ship (when one is look- 
ing forward): as, "the ship heels to port"; 
"hard a port." The left side of the hlp Is now called 
port In preference to the old larboard, to prevent confusion 
with itarboard In orders, from resemblance of sound. 
V. S. Xavy Department. Washington, Feb. 18, 1840. 
It having been repeatedly represented to the Depart- 
ment that confusion arises from the use of the words 
" larboard " and " starlmard ' In consequence of their simi- 
larity of sound, the word ''port " is hereafter to be substi. 
tutcd for ''larboard. ' George Bancroft, Sec. of the Navy. 
The whalemen are the only class of seamen who have 
not adopted the term port Instead of larboard, except In 
working ship. The larboard boat was this boat to their 
great-grandfathers, and it Is so with the present generation. 
More especially Is this the case In the Atlantic and South 
Pacific fleets; but recently the term jwrt-boat has come 
Into use In the Arctic fleet. Fvheriri qf U. S., V. IL 248. 
port 5 (port), . [= F. porto; abbr. of port 
trine, prop. Port icine, Port being an English 
form of Pg. Oporto or Porto (orig. o porto, the 
port' or ' harbor '), a city in Portugal, whence 
the wine was orig. shipped: o, the, < L. tile, 
that; porto, <. L. portus, harbor: see porfi.] A 
wine of Portugal, named from Oporto (see 
above). The name Is usually given to a very dark-red 
or purplish wine, but It la sometimes pale. 1'he wine 
' usually sold under the name of port Is partly artificial, 
' prepared or "doctored " by blending, etc. Wine of abso- 
lutely pure growth is seldom to be got under the name. 
This wine Is a favorite for Imitation by blending and 
sweetening, etc., In American wines, both east and west, 
which are sold as American port. 
In England port ls adulterated with the red Spanish 
wine of Tarragona, which is a true wine, but procurable 
at half the cost of the cheapest port. 
Kneye. Brit., XVII. 796. 
In fact, when people spoke of wine in these days, they 
generally meant port. They bought port by the hogshead, 
had it bottled, and laid down. They talked about their 
cellars solemnly : they brought forth bottles which had 
been laid down in the days when (ieorge the Third was 
king; they were great on body, bouquet, and beeswing; 
they told stories about wonderful port which they had 
been privileged to drink ; they looked forward to a dinner 
chiefly on account of the port which followed It ; real en- 
joyment only began when the cloth was removed, the 
ladles were gone, and the solemn passage of the decanter 
had commenced. W. Bemnt, Fifty Yean Ago, p. 100. 
port 6 (port), n. [< Gael. Ir. port, a tune.] Mar- 
tial music adapted to the bagpipes. 
The pipe's shrill port aroused each clan. 
Scott, I. of L. M., v. 14. 
Port. An abbreviation of Portmjal and I'ortu- 
porta (por'tft), n.; pi. portx (-te). [NL., < L. 
liorln. a gate, door: see por ft.] In anal.: (a) 
The entrance or great transverse fissure of the 
liver: especially in the term rena porta, the 
