DCHP-1 Online

portage ((v.)) [< Cdn F < F]

• 1a v. carry (canoe, supplies, etc.) at a portage (def. la).

  See also: portage ((n.)) (def. 1a)  

  • 1864  [We encountered] some falls where we were compelled to portage the canoes.
  • 1914  We tried to explain by signs that we would like him to come back to our camp and help us to portage our stuff.
  • 1966  [Caption] Pat Hall . . . leads way as canoe is portaged through the bush.

• 1b v. Hist. transport by means of a portage road (def. la).

  See also: portage road (def. 1a)  

  • 1909  To portage these goods around Niagara Falls kept fifty or more farmers' waggons busy every day during the summer.

• 2 v. Maritimes, Obs. carry or pack through the bush.

  See also: portage road (def. 2)  portaging crowd  

  • 1872  . . . we left the lake and portaged our horns, skins [etc], nearly twenty miles to a lumber camp, which we were fortunate enough to find occupied by a party of lumberers.

• 3a v. make a portage (def. 2a or 3).

  See also: portage ((n.)) (def. 2a or 3)  carry ((v.)) (def. 1)  

  • 1897  After carefully considering the situation, we concluded to portage across the island of ice and launch on the other side.
  • 1912  Landing, we looked over the rapids as far as we could see them and decided to portage.
  • 1965  In the forest, water levels are more stable and a portage path becomes well established, indicating whether, where, and how far to portage

• 3b v. Figurative use

  • 1959  Governor George Simpson portaged into view at the head of the fur traders of 1825, stopping off at Jasper House en route to the virgin forests of Oregon.

• 4a v. circumvent (a rapids, waterfall, etc.) by carrying craft and cargo.

  • 1900  "Why, we'll pole up . . . and portage the White Horse Rapids and the Box Cañon."

• 4b v. cross (land) by carrying craft and cargo.

  • 1908  By canoe, this land could be portaged, and Iberville was probably the first man to blaze the trail across the swamp, which has been used by hunters from that day to this.