Meanings
plural portasses · alternative portace · alternative portas · alternative portasse · alternative portess · alternative portesse · alternative portise · alternative porthose · alternative portos · alternative portus · alternative portuse
- EarlyModernobsoleteA breviary; a prayer book.
Their portases, bedes, temples, aultars.
1545, John Bale, The Image of Both Churches4 more examples
an old Priest in that age, which always read in his Portass, Mumpsimus Domine for Sumpsimus; whereof when he was admonished, he said that he now had used Mumpsimus thirty years, and would not leave his old Mumpsimus for their new Sumpsimus.
1605, M. N. [pseudonym; William Camden], Remaines of a Greater Worke, Concerning Britaine, […], London: […] G[eorge] E[ld] for Simon Waterson, →OCLCBoner hath set up again in Paules Salesburi Latin portace.
1553, [unknown translator], Stephen Gardiner, De vera obedientiaLet me see your portous, gentle sir John.
1565, Robert Wever, An Enterlude called lusty JuventusIn his hand his portesse still he bare, That much was worn, but therein little red; For of devotion he had little care.
1590, Edmund Spenser, “(please specify the book)”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC
Synonyms & antonyms
Origin
- Old Frenchporte-hors“a kind of portable prayer-book”
- Middle Englishporthors
- Englishportass
From Middle English porthors, from Old French porte-hors (“a kind of portable prayer-book”).
More words from Middle English, Old French
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
portass. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/portass
“portass.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/portass. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “portass,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/portass.
Source: portass on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.