DCHP-1 Online

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

• 1a n. on a waterway, a place where both canoe (or other vessel) and cargo are carried from one lake or river to another or around rapids, falls, or other obstructions.

  See also: carriage (def. 2)  carrying place  

• 1b n. See quote.

  See also: portage railroad  

• 2a n. the act or process of carrying canoes, boats, supplies, etc. at such a place.

  See also: carriage (def. 1)  traverse ((1)) ((n.)) (def. 4)  

• 2b n. make a portage, carry craft and cargo at such a place.

• 3 n. the act or process of carrying boat and cargo across ice, from open water to open water.

  See also: portage ((v.)) (def. 3)  

• 4 n. the route across a height of land, or watershed, often involving many carrying-places.

  See also: carrying place  

• 5 n. Obs. the obstruction around which a carry is made.

• 6 n. a journey by dog-sled, specifically one taking an overland route as opposed to a coastal route over sea-ice (def. 1).

  See also: sea-ice (def. 1)  

• 7 n. North a definite crossing place over land between two sea-ice routes.

  See also: land-crossing  

• 8 n. Maritimes, Hist. a road used for portaging boats and cargo by means of vehicles.

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

  • The usual local pronunciation of this word was ['pɔrtæʃ]. See quote below and those at portage man and portaging crowd.