Port (?), n. [F. porte, L. porta, akin to portus; cf. AS. porte, fr. L. porta. See Port a harbor, and cf. Porte.] 1. A passageway; an opening or entrance to an inclosed place; a gate; a door; a portal.
Him I accuse
The city ports by this hath entered. Shak.
Form their ivory port the cherubim
Forth issuing. Milton.
2. (Naut.) An opening in the side of a vessel; an embrasure through which cannon may be discharged; a porthole; also, the shutters which close such an opening.
Her ports being within sixteen inches of the water. Sir W. Raleigh.
3. (Mach.) A passageway in a machine, through which a fluid, as steam, water, etc., may pass, as from a valve to the interior of the cylinder of a steam engine; an opening in a valve seat, or valve face.
Air port, Bridle port, etc. See under Air, Bridle, etc. — Port bar(Naut.), a bar to secure the ports of a ship in a gale. — Port lid(Naut.), a lid or hanging for closing the portholes of a vessel. — Steam port, andExhaust port(Steam Engine), the ports of the cylinder communicating with the valve or valves, for the entrance or exit of the steam, respectively.