Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “port” come from?

Port derives from Latin porta, a noun from the Latin verb portare meaning "to carry," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós.

port (English): A place on the coast at which ships can shelter,...

Definitions

  1. A place on the coast at which ships can shelter,...

Ancestry of “port”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1PortuguesePortoOporto
2Old Portugueseporto—
3LatinPortus CaleOporto
4LatinPortus—
5Proto-Italicportusharbour
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpértuscrossing
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “port”

  • airport
  • Portland
  • portal
  • Newport
  • seaport
  • portly
  • viewport
  • Portman
  • porthole
  • spaceport
  • carport
  • Lockport
  • portlet
  • portland
  • periportal
  • portside
  • multiport
  • outport
  • sallyport
  • antiport
  • homeport
  • portliness
  • aport
  • portmapper
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →