porter1
n.
- a person employed to carry luggage and other loads.
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(also hospital porter)
a hospital employee who moves equipment or patients.
- dark brown bitter beer brewed from malt partly charred or browned by drying at a high temperature.
- N. Amer. a sleeping-car attendant.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: from OFr. porteour, from med. L. portator, from L. portare ‘carry’; sense 2 derives from the beer orig. being made for porters.
porter2
n.
Brit. an employee in charge of the entrance of a hotel, block of flats, or other large building.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. portier, from late L. portarius, from porta ‘gate, door’.