I. ˈpōr]d.]ij, ˈpȯr], ˈpōə], ˈpȯ(ə)], ]t], ]ēj; also (ˈ) ̷ ̷|täzh, -tȧzh noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from porter to carry + -age — more at port
1. : the labor of carrying or transporting
force the proud young men, who ought to be warriors, to do portage , always considered woman's work — H.R.Collins
2.
a. obsolete : a ship's burden : tonnage
b. obsolete : cargo , freight
c. archaic : the cost of carriage : porterage 2
3.
a. obsolete : cargo carried for a sailor joining in a common adventure in lieu of all or part of his wages
b. obsolete : the space allotted for such cargo
c. archaic : a sailor's wages
4.
a. : the carrying of boats or goods overland from one river or lake to another or around a rapids
had to be carried over a canoe route 800 miles long with some 40 or more portages — J.D.Leechman
— called also haulover
b. : the route followed in making such a transfer
a modest military post was established to protect the portage — American Guide Series: Louisiana
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
: to make a portage with : carry , pack
where the falls were too angry we portaged our gear — Farley Mowat
intransitive verb
: to make a portage
we portaged six times — Alaska Sportsman