‖ porte-
(pɔrt)
Fr. imperative of porter to bear, carry; used in combination with a n. as obj. in numerous compound words in Fr., several of which are more or less used in Eng.; the first element is occasionally anglicized as port-; and other words have been formed after these with the second element English (port-electric, port-fire, etc.). From French: porte-acide (-asid), an instrument for the application of an acid to a part of the body. porte-aiguille (-egɥij) [F. aiguille needle], a fine forceps for holding a surgical needle; a needle-holder. porte-bonheur (-bɔnœr) [F. bonheur good luck], an amulet, or a trinket worn like an amulet. porte-bouquet (-buke), a bouquet-holder. porte-caustique (-kostik), also anglicized port-caustic, an instrument for applying a caustic. porte-feu (-f{obar}) (port-feu) [F. feu fire] = port-fire. porte-lumière (-lymjɛr) [F. lumière light], an apparatus consisting of a mirror so arranged as to reflect light in any desired direction; used as a substitute for the heliostat. porte-parole (-parɔl) [F. parole word], a spokesman, a mouthpiece. See also portefeuille, etc.
| 1890 Billings Med. Dict., *Porte-acid, a glass tube through which a platinum wire passes carrying a tuft saturated with the acid to be applied. |
| 1857 Dunglison Dict. Med., *Porte-aiguille, an instrument for accurately laying hold of a needle, and giving it greater length. 1895 in Syd. Soc. Lex. |
| 1884 G. Moore Mummer's Wife (1887) 206 She had..a little gold *porte-bonheur..she had bought that morning. |
| 1839 C. Schreiber Jrnl. (1950) 93 The Ex-Chancellor..took the nosegay in his hand, extricated it from the *porte-bouquet..and instead of giving the flowers into Mr. Pamther's expectant hands, he smelt them himself. 1900 Daily News 6 Nov. 6/1 Some of them [prizes] were cut chrysanthemums in artistically-carved porte-bouquets. |
| 1846 F. Brittan tr. Malgaigne's Man. Oper. Surg. 274 Preference should always be given to a *porte-caustique like that of Ducamp for the urethra. 1884 M. Mackenzie Dis. Throat & Nose II. 252 An ingenious porte-caustique has been invented by Dr. Fauvel. |
| 1802 James Milit. Dict. s.v. Entonnoir, the tin-case or *port-feu which is used to convey the priming powder into the touch-hole of a cannon. |
| 1656 Blount Glossogr., *Porte-guidon, an Ensign-bearer to a troop of men at Arms. |
| 1884 Century Mag. XXIX. 238/2 This apparatus consisted of a long photometer-box with a *porte lumière at one end. |
| 1946 J. Flanner in New Yorker 23 Mar. 74/2 Milch gave the appearance of being Göring's *porte-parole. 1966 T. Reese Story of Accusation xi. 158 He is a lawyer. He is only a porte-parole. |