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port⁵

(pôrt)

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.

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.]

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.

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