portress

American  

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

noun

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

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portress British  

/ ˈpɔːtrɪs /

noun

1. a female porter, esp a doorkeeper

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Gender

See -ess.

Etymology

Origin of portress

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

portress

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

From Time Magazine Archive

"Yourself are with yourself the sole consortress In that unleaguerable fortress; It knows you not for portress."

From Notwithstanding by Cholmondeley, Mary

I am beginning to get tired of my portress, who is forty-five years old and has one leg shorter than the other; it is true that she overwhelms me with kindnesses.

From The Barber of Paris by Kock, Charles Paul de

Why, I do not know," replied the portress, still sturdily setting her face against their passage; "there was another person waiting on the outside to show you the way, till just a minute ago.

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

The outer portals remained swung back all day; but the light inner doors were opened and closed on demand by old Bianca, the portress, who lived in a dusky den under the staircase.

From Dorothy and other Italian Stories by Woolson, Constance Fenimore