portass

P3O1R1T1A1S1S1
/ˈpɔː(ɹ)təs/

noun

A breviary; a prayer book.

Scrabble 9

Meanings

nounportass (plural portasses)

plural portasses · alternative portace · alternative portas · alternative portasse · alternative portess · alternative portesse · alternative portise · alternative porthose · alternative portos · alternative portus · alternative portuse

  1. EarlyModernobsoleteA breviary; a prayer book.

    Their portases, bedes, temples, aultars.

    1545, John Bale, The Image of Both Churches
    4 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, →OCLC

    Boner hath set up again in Paules Salesburi Latin portace.

    1553, [unknown translator], Stephen Gardiner, De vera obedientia

    Let me see your portous, gentle sir John.

    1565, Robert Wever, An Enterlude called lusty Juventus

    In 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

  1. Old Frenchporte-hors“a kind of portable prayer-book”
  2. Middle Englishporthors
  3. Englishportass

From Middle English porthors, from Old French porte-hors (“a kind of portable prayer-book”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

portass. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/portass

MLA

“portass.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/portass. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “portass,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/portass.

Source: portass on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.