Portesse
(Por"tesse) n. See Porteass. [Obs.] Tyndale.
Portfire
(Port"fire`) n. A case of strong paper filled with a composition of niter, sulphur, and mealed
powder, — used principally to ignite the priming in proving guns, and as an incendiary material in shells.
Portfolio
(Port*fol"io) n. [F. portefeuille; porter to carry + feuille a leaf. See Port to carry, and Folio.]
1. A portable case for holding loose papers, prints, drawings, etc.
2. Hence: The office and functions of a minister of state or member of the cabinet; as, to receive the
portfolio of war; to resign the portfolio.
Portglave
(Port"glave) n. [F. porte- glaive; porter to carry + glaive a sword.] A sword bearer. [Obs.]
Portgreve
(Port"greve` Port"grave`) [AS. portgerefa; port a harbor + gerefa a reeve or sheriff. See Reeve
a steward, and cf. Portreeve.] In old English law, the chief magistrate of a port or maritime town.; a
portreeve. [Obs.] Fabyan.
Porthole
(Port"hole`) n. (Naut.) An embrasure in a ship's side. See 3d Port.
Porthook
(Port"hook`) n. (Naut.) One of the iron hooks to which the port hinges are attached. J.
Knowles.
Porthors
(Port"hors`) n. See Portass. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Portico
(Por"ti*co), n.; pl. Porticoes (#) or Porticos. [It., L. porticus. See Porch.] (Arch.) A colonnade
or covered ambulatory, especially in classical styles of architecture; usually, a colonnade at the entrance
of a building.
Porticoed
(Por"ti*coed) a. Furnished with a portico.
Portière
(||Por`tière"") n. [F., fr. porte gate, door. See Port a gate.] A curtain hanging across a doorway.
Portigue
(Por"ti*gue) n. See Portague. Beau. & Fl.
Portingal
(Por"tin*gal) a. Of or pertaining to Portugal; Portuguese. [Obs.] — n. A Portuguese. [Obs.]
Portion
(Por"tion) n. [F., from L. portio, akin to pars, partis, a part. See Part, n.]
1. That which is divided off or separated, as a part from a whole; a separated part of anything.
2. A part considered by itself, though not actually cut off or separated from the whole.
These are parts of his ways; but how little a portion is heard of him!
Job xxvi. 14.
Portions and parcels of the dreadful past.
Tennyson. 3. A part assigned; allotment; share; fate.
The lord of that servant . . . will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Luke xii. 46.
Man's portion is to die and rise again.
Keble.
