Category:Portoise

Por"toise, n. Etym: [perhaps fr. Of. porteis portative, portable.] (naut.)

Defn: the gunwale of a ship. 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.