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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

portress

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

From Time Magazine Archive

"Yes, to let you pass, my sister," replied the portress, "for I suppose you are the young lady she meant; but not to let any body else pass."

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

Antoine, the porter's wife, a little loquacious, but obliging to her tenants, in a word, such a portress as we find only in books.

From The Catholic World; Volume I, Issues 1-6 A Monthly Eclectic Magazine by E. Rameur

The mistress of the house then looked towards the portress, and said to her, Arise to perform what thou hast to do.

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

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

From Notwithstanding by Mary Cholmondeley

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