porter

Meanings

Noun

• A person who carries luggage and related objects.
• An ant having the specialized role of carrying.
• One who ports software (makes it usable on another platform).
• A person in control of the entrance to a building.
• An employee who clears and cleans tables and puts bowling balls away.
• A strong, dark ale, originally favored by porters (etymology 1, sense 1), similar to a stout but less strong.
• Stout (malt brew).

Verb

• To serve as a porter; to carry.

Origin

• From Middle English porter, portere, portier, borrowed from Anglo-Norman portour and Old French porteor, from Late Latin portātor, from past participle of Latin portō.
• From Middle English porter, portere, portare, borrowed from Anglo-Norman portour and Old French portier, from Late Latin portarius ("gatekeeper"), from Latin porta ("gate").