portress

American  

[pawr-tris, pohr-] / ˈpɔr trɪs, ˈpoʊr- /

noun

1. a woman who has charge of a door or gate; a female doorkeeper.

---

portress British  

/ ˈpɔːtrɪs /

noun

1. a female porter, esp a doorkeeper

---

Gender

See -ess.

Etymology

Origin of portress

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; porter ², -ess

Example Sentences

A portress stopped me by the cloakroom at the main entrance.

From Time Magazine Archive

While I was hesitating, uncertain as to what I should do, Pomponne opened my door and announced with emphasis: "Madame Potrelle, concierge or portress!"

From Fr?d?rique; vol. 2 by Kock, Charles Paul de

The portress handed to them the wine, and, as the cup was circulating among them, the porter said to them, Brothers, have ye any tale or strange anecdote wherewith to amuse us?

From The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I. Commonly Called the Arabian Nights' Entertainments by Anonymous

At length, however, it was reached, and was found vacant of every one but the old portress, who stood gazing through a small iron grating at what was passing without.

From Henry of Guise; (Vol. III of 3) or, The States of Blois by James, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)

The portress, the lay sisters, the visiters, obtained the news of the hour from those without, and communicated it to the nuns within.

From Henry of Guise; (Vol. III of 3) or, The States of Blois by James, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)