porthouse means A building that contains the offices of officials responsible for running a port, space for customs, etc. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 91 out of 100.
Etymology
From port + house.
noun
- A building that contains the offices of officials responsible for running a port, space for customs, etc.“We had accomplished about three-quarters of[ the distance, and were beginning to look to the terminataon of our labors; Cape Traverse was full in sight, and even the porthouse, which was our goal, and we knew that we could now be seen by the lookout, who watched the course of the boat as soon as it came in sight, in order to send the sleigh along the coast to meet the party.”
- The main cabin on the port side of a boat.“The starboard-house is a small galley and the porthouse contains the stairway leading below to the captain's cabin and mate's messroom.”