Old English, from Latin portus 'haven, harbour', reinforced in Middle English by Old Frenchshortened form of Oporto, a major port from which the wine is shippedmid 16th cent.: probably originally the side turned towards the portOld English (in the sense gateway), from Latin porta 'gate'; reinforced in Middle English by Old French porte. The later sense 'opening in the side of a ship' led to the general sense 'aperture'Middle English (in sense 2 of the noun): from Old French port 'bearing, gait', from the verb porter, from Latin portare 'carry'. The verb (from French porter) dates from the mid 16th centearly 20th cent.: abbreviation of portmanteau