por|ter

por|ter¹ «PR tuhr, POHR-», noun, verb.

–n.

1. a man employed to carry loads or baggage, especially at a hotel, railroad station, or airport: »

Give your bags to the porter.

2. U.S. an attendant in a parlor car or sleeping car of a railway train.

–v.t.

to carry as a porter: »

Enough drink had been portered on the big trays to inflame an army (New Yorker).

╂[< Old French porteous < Late Latin portātor < Latin portāre to carry]

por|ter² «PR tuhr, POHR-», noun.

1. a person who guards a door or entrance; doorman: »

The porter let them in.

2. = janitor. (Cf. ↑janitor)

╂[< Anglo-French porter, Old French portier < Late Latin portārius < Latin porta gate]

por|ter³ «PR tuhr, POHR-», noun.

1. a heavy, dark-brown beer.

2. Obsolete. a mixture of light beer, or ale, and stout, resembling this in flavor and color.

╂[short for porter's ale, apparently < porter² (the original intended consumers)]