Port.
1. (Shipbuilding.) a. A framed opening in a ship's side through which a gun is fired, a hawser passed out, or cargo passed in or out. They are known as gun-ports, ballast-ports, cargo-ports, etc., and are closed by shutters or lids. Row-ports are for sweeps. The aft and forward ports are known as stern, quarter, or bridle ports; also as chase-ports, sternchase ports, etc. A half-port is one hinged to the sill of the port and closing the latter up to the line of metal of the gun. A light-port is an opening provided with a glazed lid or side-light. A water-tight shutter over the side-light is called a dead-light, and is used in stormy weather. An air-port is an opening through the side below decks for ventilation.
2. (Nautical.) The left side of a vessel to a person standing on deck and facing toward the bows. It was formerly called larboard. [1767]
3. (Steam-engine and Hydraulics.) A steam opening. An aperture for the passage of a fluid; as, a steam-port, water-port, gas-port. The entering port for live steam is the inlet or induction port; the port of departure is the outlet, eduction, or exhaust port.
4. (Harness.) The curve in the mouth-piece of some bridle-bits.
