Cinque Ports

UK/sɪŋk pɔːts/

proper noun

A confederation of historic coastal towns in Kent and Sussex, originally formed for military and trade purposes in the High Middle Ages, now largely ceremonial.

Meanings

proper noun
  1. historicalA confederation of historic coastal towns in Kent and Sussex, originally formed for military and trade purposes in the High Middle Ages, now largely ceremonial.

Origin

From Anglo-Norman; literally “Five Harbours”, from the five original members Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover, and Sandwich.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Cinque Ports. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cinque%20Ports

MLA

“Cinque Ports.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cinque%20Ports. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Cinque Ports,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cinque%20Ports.

Source: Cinque Ports on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.