Portoise

1 definition found

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

  Portoise \Por"toise\, n. [Perhaps fr. OF. porteis portative,
     portable.] (Naut.)
     The gunwale of a ship.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {To lower the yards a-portoise}, to lower them to the


        gunwale.
  
     {To ride a portoise}, to ride an anchor with the lower yards
        and topmasts struck or lowered, as in a gale of wind.
        [1913 Webster]