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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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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.

Port, n.² Also: porte; poirt; pourt. [ME and e.m.E. port (Cursor M.), porte (Gower), poort (Caxton), F. porte, L. porta door, gate. Cf. OE port, either obs. or merged in the French word in ME, OS porta, OFris., MLG porte, MDu. porte, poort(e, all f. Latin (ON port is perh. f. OE).]

1. A gateway or entrance-way, esp. of a walled town or of a castle.Also of a lists and of a walled or stockaded military camp.? Normally a large and structurally elaborate entrance-way.? Chiefly, a gateway equipped with a gate or door or gates or doors; ? also, an open entrance-way.sing. (1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 662 (D).
To breke the walle … And the porte als to mak it wyd Ib. 738 (C).
Thrught the wall Of the brokyn port entred all a1500 Henr. Orph. 386 (Ch. & M.).
Quhill thay almaist com to the vttir port 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 290. Id. Æn. ii viii 95.
Oft wyth the ram the port is schaik and duschit Ib. ix xi 29.
At thai the port, quhilk be Eneas charge Was commandyt to kepe stekit, all at large Has warpyt oppyn onbreid to the wall Ib. xii 7.
He thristis to the levys of the ȝet, And closyt queym the entre, and furth schet Without the port a gret sort of hys feris 1533 Boece 594 b.
Quhan the cart was entering throw middis the porte be slicht the extre sleppit 1535 Stewart 26913 (see Gin n. 2). 1540 Lynd. Sat. 647. 1568 Lanark B. Rec. 41.
The daye wach … till keipe the port all day quhill viij houris at nycht 1570 Sat. P. xxiv 47.
At euerie port a spald of thé to hing As tratouris sould 1572 Peebles B. Rec. I 337 (see Cruke n. 3 (a)). 1579–80 Inverness Rec. I 274.
The commoun stanes … for reparatioun of the port on the brig 1582 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 259.
To delyuer to Thomas Morame, porter of the Nether Bow, the bowet and cord thairof, to be hung at the said port 1589 Edinb. Archit. Assoc. Trans. IX 130.
And the said port to be erectit als heich in all partis as the ease of the said … tenement c 1600 Ib. 134 (see Charnel n.). 1636 Peebles Gleanings 211.
To a creppill woman sitting seik at the porte(2) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 657 (D).
The porte, forsuth, of the cite Was nought of so gret quantyte The hors mycht entre gaynandly c1475 Wall. iv 359.
The mar kepyt the port of that willage, Wallace knew weill a1500 Seven S. 1708, 9.
Wnder ilk porte of the cite At ilk port a hole thai maide 1507 Treas. Acc. IV 86.
To the pur folkis at the port of Strivelin 1513 Doug. vi Prol. 56.
Wepand and waland at the first port of hell 1547 Treas. Acc. IX 89.
To the portarres of the bowes and porte of Edinburgh for thair laubourres … xx s. 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 121/59.
By the porte half oppin of the goulfe profonde & hou 1596 Dalr. II 155/9.
At the nether port of the castel 1625 Justiciary Cases I 31.
Thir is ane stok at the poirt of aych of the townes foirsaidis of the just lenth and gadge of the measour 1679 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 299.
To caus hew the tounes armes … wpon the port of the Bridge of Die(3) ?1438 Alex. ii 3053.
At the port Iuore Thay will ane bushment mak preue Ib. 5939.
He went furth at port Iuory, The ȝet that nixt was to the sey 1513 Doug. iii v 133.
At port Seya I entir 1533 Bell. Livy I 148/5.
Porte Aquillyne, quhilk was the farest porte of Rome 1682–3 Customs Acc. (S.R.O.).
Book of importatione and exportatione at port Alisonbanke(4) 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 516.
To the nethir port of Sanct Mary Wynd 1546 Aberd. B. Rec. I 242.
Ane man to keip the Gallowgait port, and ane wther the Thewis port, and at Futeist port and the Trinite port be … keipit close 1546–7 Perth Guildry 238 (8 March).
And thre s. for minding of the est porte 1560 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XVIII 40.
For ane irneprik to put ane mannis heid upoun at Sanct Andrews port a1578 Pitsc. II 303/4. 1583–4 Misc. Spald. C. V 56.
Daillis … to big the keyheid port and to mend the rest of the portis 1594–5 Ib. 118. 1600 Duncan Glasg. Physic. & Surg. 15.
For bigging a lodge without the Stable Green port to the women that hath the glengore 1605 Aberd. B. Rec. II 275. 1605–19 Paisley B. Rec. 134. 1640–1 Misc. Spald. C. V 156.
For ane flott and tuo stepilles to the calsey port 1645–6 Dumfries Treas. Acc. 14 Nov.
Repairing the kirkgait port 1681 Dumfries Doc. (Petitions No. 47).
At that pairt neir the soutergait port(5) c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 89 a/29.
Na surrigiane may cure thame [hands] … Bot thow thame oppin payntit as a port 1543 Aberd. B. Rec. I 192.
Ane new port of stane to be maid 1571 Treas. Acc. XII 274.
Ane dosane of sparris to mak ane porte 1572 Peebles B. Rec. I 343.
Ane new port to be biggit to the new wall of the reddyest tymber of the kirk tymmer 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 241. 1627 Kellie Pallas Armata 24 (see Port v.). 1644 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 20.
To caus build ane port of timber with ane wicket(6) 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 939.
Thay haue ane boumbard … To keip thare porte, in myddis of thare clois 15.. Edinb. Univ. MS. La IV 6.
[To gi]ff ingres in at ȝour port c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 887.
Ladie Hoip did cry on Chaistitie: Said sister deir oppin ȝour port to me 1567 Sat. P. v 76.
Baith day & nycht gar walk your portplur.(a) (1) 1456 Hay I 41/34.
Quhasa ever past out … of Rome … nocht be the portis, he suld dee 1494 Loutfut MS. 2 a.
And at thair be maid twa portis the tane to the rising of the sone and [etc.] … and thai salbe stekkit with gud barreris 1513 Doug. i vii 7.
The fair portis alsso he ferleit fast And of the brute of pepill tharat inpast Ib. ii i 26.
Al thai of Troy … Kest vp the portis and yschit furth to play 1531 Bell. Boece II 56. 1535–6 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 162.
Four men to keip our porttis one the mercat day fra all countre men and voman suspekit of the pestelens 1538 Soc. Ant. II 394. 1547 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 131. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 893.
Ports and draw briggs … Scho did vnlok c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1746.
Thare wes fyue score of brasin portis 1556 Peebles B. Rec. I 235.
The thesaurare to vesy gif ony tymber be to by to mak portis of 1570 Lanark B. Rec. 50.
Quhille the portes be beget 1585 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 108.
That nane of thaim haif libertie to pas … out and in at ony bak yettis … bot onlie at the commoun portis 1606 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 22.
For winning … hewin wark, xxvii pend stannis [etc.] … to the portis 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 51. 1692 Conv. Burghs IV 571.
Of the midding lairs at the east and west ports(2) 1468 Peebles B. Rec. I 157.
That the iiij portis of the town sal be closyt and [etc.] 1512–13 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 141.
At portis or entres of oure said burgh 1533 Gau 48/23.
Jesus Christ … distroyit … the portis of hel 1533 Bell. Livy II 89/16.
Ane parte of his army fensit statiouns affore the portis of his tentis [L. pars militum portarum stationes firmant] 1547 Armstrong Hist. Liddesdale I App. lxxxi.
To the portarres of the bollis and portis of Edinburgh 1564 Edinb. B. Rec. III 183.
Porttis a1578 Pitsc. II 261/25.
That he causit thame to gif backis and fled to the portis of Edinburgh 1583 Reg. Privy C. III 578.
At the portis of his hienes palice 1596 Dalr. II 26/34.
Afore the toun [sc. Newcastle] portis 1609 Crim. Trials III 42.
The twa inner portis of the castell of Edinburgh being forcit [etc.] 1673 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 286.
The iron catbands made for securitie of the ports of the toune(b) 1600 Elgin Rec. II 86.
It is appointit that 24 bywatches wait on the poirtis of this toun during this tyme of the wisitatioun 1600–2 Montrose Treas. Acc. 8.
For tua hinging lockis to the poirtis(c) 1645–6 Dumfries Treas. Acc. 14 Nov.
For … repairing vther pourtes about the towne

b. ? plur. in the sense of prec. sing.Perh. with regard to the two half-doors closing a gate-way of this sort. 1513 Doug. vi ii 63.
Sen the entres and port … bene heir, Of the infernal king … Thiddir the passage, and al ways rycht, Do teche me, and tha secret portis onschet Ib. ix 88 (see Jarg v. 1). Ib. x 10.
Tha portis with thar stalwart bow or brace

c. ? A gate or door closing a gateway of this sort. 1571 Lanark B. Rec. 63.
Patrik M^cMoran to big ane hingan port of timer to the castell port

d. fig., or in fig. context, or transf.sing. a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1293.
Quhilk is the ȝet that we call now the port? Nocht bot our graif to pas in as a mort 1490 Irland Mir. II 13/26.
The sacrament of bapteme … opynnis the port and ȝet of paradice 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 2130.
Thow port … of our comfort and reid c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxvi 41.
Haile, port of paradyse 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 990.
Sic pacient prelatis enterit be the porte … Now dyke lowparis dois in the kirk resort 1537 Id. Depl. Magd. 184. c1552 Id. Mon. 4825. c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 493.
So God sall cloise on ȝow … His heauinlie porte c1590 J. Stewart 51/103.
The percebill primp port he did persawe 1628 Pastor and Prelate 66.
Sommes of money given … by cannie friends of the intrants [to the ministry] who can finde no entrie but by a golden port 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 477.plur. 1490 Irland Mir. II 37/31.
He has persit the portis of deid 1533 Gau 61/14.
The portis of hel preualit aganis Peter quhen he fel and deniit Christ 1570 Sat. P. xvii 106.
That shot to vice the portis hes oppinit plane c1590 Fowler II 38/29.
That the ports and gaits of hel sal not preuail against the elect 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 208.
I am drawing near to the ports of death Ib. 239.
This glorious king … is redacted to the ports of the grave, and to the ports of desperation, in a manner 1628 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 40. 1635 Dickson Wr. 119.
As Samson, he takes away the ports and bars of death 1651 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 665.

e. attrib. and comb.(1) 1675 Stirling Common Good 94 b.
For neidnailling of doors and windowes at the port gaird — 1661 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 110.
I beseich you … put ane port gait on — 1569 Lanark B. Rec. 45.
The port heid to be flaget 1622 Peebles B. Rec. I 361.
That na eldin be layit vpone the port heids nor toun wallis and na woll nor claith driit vpon port heidis nor croce — 1538–9 Ayr B. Acc. 80.
Port yettis(2) 1661 Stirling Common Good 9.
The receipt of the brige custom … the receipt of the port custome

2. transf. a. By synecdoche, (within or without, to or from, etc.) the limit(s) or boundarie(s) (of a town, property, etc.); more often plur. b. By metonymy, The road passing through or leading to, or the area adjacent to, a ‘port’.a. plur. ?c 1500 Rathen Manual 28/1.
All the forsaide misdoaris … we … sequestris … fra the portis of paradys and the ȝhettis of hevinne 1504 Perth Guildry 156 (15 Nov.).
At nane gildbrether by … skynnis without the porttis or ȝettis of this burgh 1513 Doug. ii x 128.
Within the portis and entre Of my faderis lugyng am I cummyn 1533 Bell. Livy I 38/29.
Romulus … come with sic … mynassing to the portis of Fidena, that he [etc.] 1561 Inverness Rec. I 58.
For ewyrre laid or sayk the horse hess fra the stane to the forrest part innowth the portis j d. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 54.
The Frenchemen … chasit the congregatioun to the portis of Edinburgh 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I 12.
Johne Leslie … quha was with his forceis … at the portis of this burgh 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 124.
The burges sall craue … justice at the castell, and without the ports thereofsing. 1561 Inverness Rec. I 53.
Ane [rude] of land lyand in Damsdell in the west syd of the get bewne the port 1561-72 Thirds of Benefices 21.
[St. Leonard's chapel] outwith the poirt of Air 1578 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 65.
The land of vmquhill William McClellan of Balgreddan lyand without the porteb. 1647 Glasgow B. Rec. II 113.
To caus build … the dyke … neir the Gallowgaite port and the port ther to be calsiet 1650 Brechin Presb. 50.
Shee knew a woman betwixt the croce and the port 1654 Dumfries Kirk S. 28 Sept.
Margaret Blak at the poirt compeiring 1694 Foulis Acc. Bk. 166.
In the shoemakers land in west port

c. plur. The customs payable at a ‘port’, = port custom, 1 e (2) above. 1612–13 Dumfries Common Good Acc. in Edgar Hist. Dumfries 257.
Compt of the … casualiteis of the burgh of Drumfreis … The greit custume, to wit the portis and trone ij^c li. 1627–8 Ib. 258.
Poirtis

d. In billiards: Appar., an arch or hoop through which the ball was to pass. 1688 R. Holme Armoury III 262/2 (OED).]
[Cf.: Billiards … the Port is the Arch of Ivory, standing at a little distance from the other end of the Table 1599 Treas. Acc. MS 72.
To … smyth for … ane port and prik to the bilȝard burd

e. Appar., a starting-‘gate’ of some kind for a horse-race. — 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 446.
The magistrates of Inverness set up the port and pillars for the annuall horse race

3. An opening or door in the side of a ship. ?14.. Ship Laws c. 8 (B).
And brede and wyne be layit on the porte 1467 Acts II 89/1.
That … thar be maide briggis of buirdis or portis in ferry baittis for the eis of schipping of the saide hors c 1598 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 15 b.
For irne warke to our portes Ib.
To the temermene quhane tha couket out our portes 1597 Ib. 16 b.
For ane planke to be portis 1632 Justiciary Cases I 197.
Of the thiftious breking up … of the dures and poirtis of the schip callit the Johnne of Leith