definitions

porthole

[ pawrt-hohl, pohrt- ]
/ ˈpɔrtˌhoʊl, ˈpoʊrt- /
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noun

a round, windowlike opening with a hinged, watertight glass cover in the side of a vessel for admitting air and light.Compare port4(def 1).
an opening in a wall, door, etc., as one through which to shoot.

RELATED WORDS

channel, orifice, vent, opening, tear, spout, escape, break, aperture, egress, exit, crack, release, hole, avenue, nozzle, duct, bay, bow, fenestella

Nearby words

porterville, portfire, portfolio, portfolio employment, portfolio worker, porthole, porthole die, portia, portici, portico, porticoed

Origin of porthole

First recorded in 1585–95; port4 + hole
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for porthole

British Dictionary definitions for porthole

porthole

/ (ˈpɔːtˌhəʊl) /

noun

a small aperture in the side of a vessel to admit light and air, usually fitted with a watertight glass or metal cover, or bothSometimes shortened to: port
an opening in a wall or parapet through which a gun can be fired; embrasure
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 porthole

porthole

n.

also port-hole, 1590s, from port (n.2) + hole (n.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper