portage

¹

[ pawr-tij, pohr-, pawr-tahzh ]

noun

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.

verb (used without object)

, por·taged, por·tag·ing.

1. to make a portage:

   On this stretch of the river, we have to portage for a mile.

verb (used with object)

, por·taged, por·tag·ing.

1. to carry (something) over a portage; make a portage with:

   We portaged our canoe around the rapids.

Portage

²

[ pawr-tij, pohr- ]

noun

1. a city in SW Michigan.
2. a town in NW Indiana.

portage

/ pɔrtaʒ; ˈpɔːtɪdʒ /

noun

1. the act of carrying; transport
2. the cost of carrying or transporting
3. the act or process of transporting boats, supplies, etc, overland between navigable waterways
4. the route overland used for such transport

verb

1. to transport (boats, supplies, etc) overland between navigable waterways

Word History and Origins

Origin of portage¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Middle French; port ⁵, -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of portage¹

C15: from French, from Old French porter to carry

Example Sentences

Superior National Forest officials had closed trails, campsites, portages and bodies of water in the area, to assist in the search.

From Seattle Times

This was an important historical spot for the Coast Salish peoples as a canoe portage between Lake Washington and Lake Union, before the Montlake Cut was dug to unite the two water bodies.

From Seattle Times

From the time they set up camp to stop and build the portage, the bugs were worse than ever.

From Literature

“With a barge, if you have a closure at a lock and dam it is not like canoeing or kayaking where you can portage around the obstacle. River transit will close,” he said.

From Seattle Times

The wilderness stopped issuing entry permits, closing all land, water, trails, portages, campsites, canoe routes and entry points until Aug. 27.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• bear
• bring
• ferry
• give
• haul
• hoist
• import
• lift
• lug
• move
• pack
• remove
• take
• tote
• transfer
• transmit