merchants enjoy, for goods
imported into a state, or those exported of the growth of the country.
Such was the privilege the English enjoyed for several years after their
discovery of the port of Archangel, and which was taken from them on
account of the regicide in 1648.

PORTABLE SOUP, and other preparations of meat. Of late years a very
valuable part of naval provision.

PORTAGE. Tonnage. Also, the land carriage between two harbours, often
high and difficult for transport. Also, in Canadian river navigation
means the carrying canoes or boats and their cargo across the land,
where the stream is interrupted by rocks or rapids.

PORT ARMS! The military word of command to bring the fire-lock across
the front of the body, muzzle slanting upwards; a motion preparatory for
the "charge bayonets!" or for inspecting the condition of the locks.

PORT-BARS. Strong pieces of oak, furnished with two laniards, by which
the ports are secured from flying open in a gale of wind, the bars
resting against the inside of the ship; the port is first tightly closed
by its hooks and ring-bolts.

PORT-CHARGES, OR HARBOUR-DUES. Charges levied on vessels resorting to a
port.

PORTCULLIS. A heavy frame of wooden or iron bars, sliding in vertical
grooves within the masonry over the gateway of a fortified town, to be
lowered for barring the passage. When hastily made, it was termed a
sarrazine.

PORTE. _See_ SUBLIME PORTE.

PORT-FIRE. A stick of composition, generally burning an inch a minute,
used to convey fire from the slow-match or the like to the priming of
ordnance, though superseded with most guns by locks or friction-tubes.
With a slightly altered composition it is used for signals; also for
firing charges of mines.

PORT-FLANGE. In ship-carpentry, is a batten of wood fixed on the ship's
side over a port, to prevent water or dirt going into the port.

PORT-GLAIVE. A sword-bearer.

PORT-LAST, OR PORTOISE. Synonymous with _gunwale_.

PORT-MEN. A name in old times for the inhabitants of the Cinque Ports;
the burgesses of Ipswich are also so called.

PORT-MOTE. A court held in haven towns or ports.

PORT-NAILS. These are classed double and single: they are similar to
clamp-nails, and like them are used for fastening iron work.

PORT-PENDANTS. Ropes spliced into rings on the outside of the port-lids,
and rove through leaden pipes in the ship's sides, to work the port-lids
up or down by the tackles.

PORT-PIECE. An ancient p