What does "porterage" mean?
The carrying or transportation of goods by a porter (“person who carries luggage and related objects”) or other person.
Porterage
/ˈpɔːtəɹɪd͡ʒ/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The carrying or transportation of goods by a porter (“person who carries luggage and related objects”) or other person.
- Grammar: porterage is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: air express, airfreight, airlift, bearing.
- Usage evidence: [T]he Gallant was ready punctually at his hour with three or four Porters, by the help of whom he quickly removed all the choice Goods or any that were worth Porterage to a place appointed.
How to use "porterage"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "porterage" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "porterage" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "porterage" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 The carrying or transportation of goods by a porter (“person who carries luggage and related objects”) or other person. uncountable
"[T]he Gallant was ready punctually at his hour with three or four Porters, by the help of whom he quickly removed all the choice Goods or any that were worth Porterage to a place appointed."
- 2 The occupation of, or services provided by, a porter (“person in control of the entrance to a building”). uncountable
"In rules of Porterage untaught, / Simplicity, not vvorth a groat, / For years had kept the Temple door; / Full on his breaſt a glaſs he vvore, / Thro' vvhich his boſom open lay / To ev'ry one vvho paſs'd that vvay."
- 3 the transportation of burdens by porters wordnet
- 4 Porters regarded collectively. uncountable
"He [George Mallory] went down with [Charles Granville] Bruce and [Andrew] Irvine that same day to Camp III, intent on investigating afresh with Bruce's aid the question of available porterage. It was found just possible to collect together sufficient men, who were not indisposed, to carry up oxygen supplies for such an attempt."
- 5 the charge for carrying burdens by porters wordnet
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 Goods or other things which are carried; burdens. obsolete, rare, uncountable
"Novv, the parts in man that may be called the Porters, and vvhich bear the burdens that are carried, can be no other than the Scapula, and its Acromion, vvhich is the part upon vvhich the burden is pitched; and the back bone vvhich is the part that gives the greateſt ſtrength tovvards the bearing of it, both vvhich, vvhen age hath much enfeebled a man, become unſerviceable as unto thoſe ends, theſe Porters do novv become a porterage themſelves, and thoſe parts that vvere vvont to bear the greateſt burdens, are novv ſo great a burden themſelves, that the man ſtoops under them, and is ſcarce able to bear them."
- 7 The charge for such carrying or transportation. countable, uncountable
"Boatage, and Porterage to the VVare-houſe"
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"[T]he Gallant was ready punctually at his hour with three or four Porters, by the help of whom he quickly removed all the choice Goods or any that were worth Porterage to a place appointed."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "porterage"?
Common synonyms include: air express, airfreight, airlift, bearing, carriage, carry.
How do you use "porterage" in a sentence?
[T]he Gallant was ready punctually at his hour with three or four Porters, by the help of whom he quickly removed all the choice Goods or any that were worth Porterage to a place appointed.
How do you pronounce "porterage"?
Pronounced /ˈpɔːtəɹɪd͡ʒ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From porter (“person who carries luggage and related objects”) + -age (suffix forming nouns indicating an action, process, or result; a charge, fee, or toll; or a relationship or state). Cognates * Anglo-Norman portage, porterage * Late Latin portagium
Etymology 2
From porter (“person in control of the entrance to a building”) + -age (suffix forming nouns indicating a relationship or state).