/pawr"tij, pohr"-/ , or, for 2, 3, 5, 6, /pawr tahzh"/ , n. , v. , portaged, portaging .
n.
1. the act of carrying; carriage.
2. the carrying of boats, goods, etc., overland from one navigable water to another.
3. the route over which this is done.
4. the cost of carriage.
v.i.
5. to make a portage: On this stretch of the river, we have to portage for a mile.
v.t.
6. to carry (something) over a portage; make a portage with: We portaged our canoe around the rapids.
[ 1375-1425; late ME 5 , -AGE ]