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; 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

By this time Concha and La Giralda had taken the trembling portress by the arms, and were bringing her along in the van, whispering comfort in her ears all the way.

From The Firebrand by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)

The hero is admitted by the portress Idleness into a fair garden of flowers, where he finds Sir Mirth, Lady Courtesy, Dame Gladness, and many another gallant and debonair knight and lady.

From Chaucer and His Times by Hadow, Grace E.

In a few minutes, he had won the good-will of the portress, with whom he chatted for an hour on the most varied topics.

From 813 by Leblanc, Maurice