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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Por-, Pourtrait, -traict, n. Also: pur- and -trate, -trat(t; -traitt(e; -tract, -traicte, -trect; -trut; -terat. [e.m.E. pourtraite (1577), -tracte, -traict, purtrait(e (1596), portrait (1596), F. portrait, OF also portret (13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), obs. pourtrait, po(u)rtraict, f. portrait, p.p. of portraire Portra(y v.Cf. also med. L. protractus plan, image, portrait, f. p.p. of L. protrahere, whence F. portraire v. (Portra(y).]

A portrait.

1. A representation, delineation or likeness of any object, but esp. a person.As made by drawing, painting, engraving, wax or clay modelling, sculpture or the like.(a) 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I 504.
The platforme & portraitt of Holie Iland besyd Berwik & within the see … alsweill that thai had drawin it with pen upon paper as thai haid the same maid in forme & portraitte with mennis handis in cley or earth 1591 Acts III 526/1.
The pece … havand on the ane syde his hienes portrat according to the painteris draucht 1591 Crim. Trials I ii 253.
Ane pictour of clay, and ane portrat of Elizabeth Home, … sewitt in ane windeine scheit 1611 Reg. Panmure I xciv.
The first and hiest part … is the portrait of ane man, rudlie vroght 1613 Soc. Ant. IV 78.
The pourtrait of our Saviour and his disciples, eating the Pasch lamb, which was larded 1616 Mylne Master Masons 106.
To the querriouris for six stainis for the kings portrait 1618 Trial Isobel Inch 5.
Ane mayd was makand muill pictures and portraittis of clay 1611-57 Mure True Crucifixe 1666.
The honour to the crucifixe ascriv'd, The purtrate first, by crafts-man hand contriu'd, Doth hit 1632 Mylne Master Masons 116.
To mak and carve his majesties portratt or any uther portratt he beis requyrit to mak 1637 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 57.
Pourtrait 1659 Mylne Master Masons 140.
For laying of Mr. Heriot's porterat over in oyle coller(b) 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 43.
Mony that hes nowther sene the said beist, nor na perfyte portraict of it [wald] beleif sic thing not to be trew 1580 Facs. Nat. MSS. III lxix.
Ane pourtraict of his maiestie full lenth 1601 Crim. Trials II 350.
Convict of the tressonabill setting of his maiesteis portract to the tramme of the gibbet 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xvii.
The more to skar away Christian contemplation, ye will finde for object to your eye the conuoyance of knights, portracts & pinsels of men 1606 Edinb. Biblio. Soc. Publ. I (1893–4) 3.
To mak … all sortis of playing cardes [etc.] … and uther portrectis and piktouris of men and women in prent or in talȝeduce 1650 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 174.
His majesties portract from the wast vpwards allanerly 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 18.
On the upmost top … stands his portraict in marble

b. spec. A drawn or painted representation of a person, esp. his face. ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 241.
That they have insert the image of the hierarchye into the kings pourtraicte 1680-6 Lauder Observes 98.
The Lord Russell was found hiding himselfe behind a chimley portrait

c. Attrib. and comb. — 1667 Edinb. Test. LXXIII 8 b.
Ane portrat caise of silver 1671 Rec. of Old Tolbooth in Bk. Old Edinb. C. VI 108.
Patrick Alexander portrut drawer

2. fig. a. A depiction of something non-material. b. Something that represents or resembles something else; a similitude. c. Semblance, outward appearance or form (of something other than the reality).a. 1598 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 660/2.
How sone my lasor micht … permitte the trew pourtraicte of my thochtisb. c1590 Fowler I 156/7.
Dewe dropps dois fall, the portraicts of my teares 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas ii 158.
Ȝoung Ascanius she doth entertaine, His parents portrate perfectly presentingc. 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii 142.
Gif thou wer than Transformd in portrait of a swan … With fedret wings