Portgrave

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Portgreve \Port"greve`\, Portgrave \Port"grave`\, [AS.
     portger[=e]fa; port a harbor + ger[=e]fa a reeve or sheriff.
     See {Reeve} a steward, and cf. {Portreeve}.]
     In old English law, the chief magistrate of a port or
     maritime town.; a portreeve. [Obs.] --Fabyan.
     [1913 Webster]