Porte

[ pawrt, pohrt ]

/ pɔrt, poʊrt /

noun

the former Ottoman court or government in Turkey.

Origin of Porte

short for Sublime Porte High Gate, French translation of the Turkish official title Babιâli, with reference to the palace gate at which justice was administered

Official name Sublime Porte.

La Porte

[ luh pawrt, pohrt ]

/ lə ˈpɔrt, ˈpoʊrt /

noun

a city in NW Indiana.

a town in S Texas.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for porte

The ultimatum was presented to the Porte, which treated it as a declaration of war.
The Turkish Empire, its Growth and Decay|Lord Eversley
The motions of Russia indicate a war with the Porte no longer Sublime.
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. IX|Various
After this, in making the round, one comes again to the Porte Majou, by which one entered.
Castles and Chateaux of Old Navarre and the Basque Provinces|Francis Miltoun
Paswan Oglou, the rebel of Widdin; who, for the last years of his life, set the whole power of the Porte at defiance.
The Works Of Lord Byron, Vol. 3 (of 7)|Lord Byron

What a contrast between this and the time when "Porte Crayon" gave him ten dollars, which Morse said would save his life!
Famous Men of Science|Sarah K. Bolton

British Dictionary definitions for porte

Porte

/ (pɔːt) /

noun

Also called: Sublime Porte the court or government of the Ottoman Empire

Word Origin for Porte

C17: shortened from French Sublime Porte High Gate, rendering the Turkish title Babi Ali, the imperial gate, which was regarded as the seat of government

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for porte

Porte

"Ottoman court at Constantinople," c.1600, from French, in full, la Sublime Porte, translation of Arabic al-Bab al-'Ali, literally "lofty gate," official name of the central office of the Ottoman government (cf. Vatican for "the Papacy," White House for "the United States"). Supposedly a reference to the ancient custom of holding royal audience in the doorway of a king's palace or tent.