porthouse

English

Etymology

port +‎ house

Noun

porthouse (plural porthouses)

1. A building that contains the offices of officials responsible for running a port, space for customs, etc.
   • 1867, The American Stamp Mercury: A Journal Devoted to Stamp Collecting:

     We had accomplished about three-quarters of[ the distance, and were beginning to look to the terminataon of our labors; Cape Traverse was full in sight, and even the porthouse, which was our goal, and we knew that we could now be seen by the lookout, who watched the course of the boat as soon as it came in sight, in order to send the sleigh along the coast to meet the party.

   • 1885, Jaime Escobar y Lozano, Index Guide for Travelers in the Philippine Islands, page 144:

     To make this short trip, one goes to the wharf of Cavite or to where the porthouse is and, once there, ask about the ship for Bulacan.

   • 1989, Orson Scott Card, Prentice Alvin [1]

     The river rat he fought was one of a gang of them lolling under the eaves of the porthouse, probably waiting for a gaming house to open.

   • 2001, Sheri Olson, Miller/Hull: Architects of the Pacific Northwest, →ISBN, page 26:

     Small portions ot the porthouse are opaque for holding cells and other secure areas. A narrow bar contains the porthouse and is solid along the east where trattic stacks up waiting to cross at the Canadian border station.

2. The main cabin on the port side of a boat.
   • 1936, United States Naval Institute, Proceedings - Volume 62, Issue 1, page 656:

     The starboard-house is a small galley and the porthouse contains the stairway leading below to the captain's cabin and mate's messroom.

   • 1975, World Health Organization. Vector Biology, Control Unit, WHO/VBC, page 34:

     The portholes (K) are opened from the outside by string (D) attached to the porthouse slide (H), and the slide is lifted until it is halted by the slide top (G).