porthouse

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word porthouse. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word porthouse, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say porthouse in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word porthouse you have here. The definition of the word porthouse will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofporthouse, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Etymology

From port +‎ house.

Noun

porthouse (plural porthouses)

  1. A building that contains the offices of officials responsible for running a port, space for customs, etc.
    • 1867, The American Stamp Mercury: A Journal Devoted to Stamp Collecting:
      We had accomplished about three-quarters of[ the distance, and were beginning to look to the terminataon of our labors; Cape Traverse was full in sight, and even the porthouse, which was our goal, and we knew that we could now be seen by the lookout, who watched the course of the boat as soon as it came in sight, in order to send the sleigh along the coast to meet the party.
    • 1885, Jaime Escobar y Lozano, Index Guide for Travelers in the Philippine Islands, page 144:
      To make this short trip, one goes to the wharf of Cavite or to where the porthouse is and, once there, ask about the ship for Bulacan.
    • 1989, Orson Scott Card, Prentice Alvin
      The river rat he fought was one of a gang of them lolling under the eaves of the porthouse, probably waiting for a gaming house to open.
    • 2001, Sheri Olson, Miller/Hull: Architects of the Pacific Northwest, →ISBN, page 26:
      Small portions ot the porthouse are opaque for holding cells and other secure areas. A narrow bar contains the porthouse and is solid along the east where trattic stacks up waiting to cross at the Canadian border station.
  2. The main cabin on the port side of a boat.
    • 1936, United States Naval Institute, Proceedings - Volume 62, Issue 1, page 656:
      The starboard-house is a small galley and the porthouse contains the stairway leading below to the captain's cabin and mate's messroom.
    • 1975, World Health Organization. Vector Biology, Control Unit, WHO/VBC, page 34:
      The portholes (K) are opened from the outside by string (D) attached to the porthouse slide (H), and the slide is lifted until it is halted by the slide top (G).