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night porter

night porter

1 4.8
A person who works in a hotel at night and helps guests
  • noun
  • /naɪt ˈpɔːrtər/
translation icon : portero nocturno
  • There are day and night porters, downstairs, there are two locks and a chain on the door, and I've got Bob.

Examples

  • Send the night porter up for my bags immediately, please.

  • "Sophia," the night porter says.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • "Yeah, I was night porter at the hotel a few years ago, and he used to send out for rum.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • We just need the photograph and the night porter or a chambermaid to act as a witness.

  • I got a job as a night porter in a hotel, then became a barman and a wine waiter.

    Blog text (24)
  • What happens is the she wanted me to sweep up the room and the the night Porter didn't come in till like a couple hours before the show.

  • The night porter's gone.

  • The hotel staff called for the night porter to help with my luggage when I arrived late.

  • As a night porter, he was responsible for checking in guests and securing the building overnight.

  • I spoke to the night porter at the hotel when I needed a taxi early in the morning.

Synonyms

porter
vsnight porter
71 2.3

A person who carries suitcases and bags at hotels or stations

works during the night rather than at other times
bellhop
vsnight porter
  • US
19 3.2

A hotel worker who carries guests' luggage and does small jobs for them

works during the night rather than at other times
bellboy
vsnight porter
16 2.8

A hotel worker who carries guests' luggage and helps with small tasks for them

works during the night rather than at other times
bellman
vsnight porter
13 6.1

A person who carries guests' bags and helps them with small jobs in a hotel

works during the night rather than at other times
hall porter
vsnight porter
  • UK
1 6.5

A person who works at a building entrance and helps visitors in hotels or university halls

works during the night rather than at other times

Surface Forms

night porter singular
night porters plural

Morphology

night + porter

The meaning 'a porter who works during the night' is directly and literally composed from 'night' (the nightly interval) + 'porter' (a hotel/station worker who carries luggage). This noun–noun/time modifier pattern is productive in English and common cross‑linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Night porter creates a simple image: a porter, a person who helps guests and carries bags, working at night. That's why it means 'a porter who works during the night', often at a hotel.