porter Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
  2. noun someone who guards an entrance
    ostiary; gatekeeper; door guard; doorkeeper; doorman; hall porter.
  3. noun United States writer of novels and short stories (1890-1980)
    Katherine Anne Porter.
  4. noun United States composer and lyricist of musical comedies (1891-1946)
    Cole Porter; Cole Albert Porter.
  5. noun United States writer of short stories whose pen name was O. Henry (1862-1910)
    O. Henry; William Sydney Porter.
  6. noun a railroad employee who assists passengers (especially on sleeping cars)
    Pullman porter.
  7. noun a very dark sweet ale brewed from roasted unmalted barley
    porter's beer.
  8. verb carry luggage or supplies
    • They portered the food up Mount Kilimanjaro for the tourists

WordNet

Por"ter noun
Etymology
F. portier, L. portarius, from porta a gate, door. See Port a gate.
Definitions
  1. A man who has charge of a door or gate; a doorkeeper; one who waits at the door to receive messages. Shak.
    To him the porter openeth. John x. 3.
Por"ter noun
Etymology
F. porteur, fr. porter to carry, L. portare. See Port to carry.
Definitions
  1. A carrier; one who carries or conveys burdens, luggage, etc.; for hire.
  2. (Forging) A bar of iron or steel at the end of which a forging is made; esp., a long, large bar, to the end of which a heavy forging is attached, and by means of which the forging is lifted and handled is hammering and heating; -- called also porter bar.
  3. A malt liquor, of a dark color and moderately bitter taste, possessing tonic and intoxicating qualities. ✍ Porter is said to be so called as having been first used chiefly by the London porters, and this application of the word is supposed to be not older than 1750.

Webster 1913