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port 1 (pôrt)
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n.
1.
a. A place on a waterway with facilities for loading and unloading ships.
b. A city or town on a waterway with such facilities.
c. 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; see per-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
port 2 (pôrt)
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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.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
port 3 (pôrt)
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n.
1. Nautical
a. An opening in a ship's side providing access to the interior.
b. A porthole.
c. 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.
a. An entrance to or exit from a data network.
b. A connection point for a peripheral device.
5. Scots A gateway or portal, as to a town.
tr.v. port·ed, port·ing, ports
Computers To modify (software) for use on a different machine or platform.

[Middle English, gate, porthole, from Old French porte, gate, from Latin porta; see per-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
port 4 also Port (pôrt)
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n.
A rich sweet fortified wine.

[After Oporto.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
port 5 (pôrt)
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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; see per-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots. N., Middle English porte, from Old French port, from porter, to carry.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
Port.
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abbr.
1. Portugal
2. Portuguese

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.