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Glite Dictionary
🪟 A small window 🔫 Firing opening
porthole

porthole

8 5.1
A small round window in the side of a ship or plane
  • noun
  • /ˈpɔrtˌhoʊl/
translation icon : porthole
  • Alex looks out the ramp's side porthole window toward the back of the plane.
  • look out the porthole
  • viewing porthole

Examples

  • The airplane's porthole gave a clear view of the clouds below as we ascended into the sky.

  • Tell us, what were you doing when you happened to look out the porthole?

    Academic text (2005)

  • In second class, you could go eight weeks... and never find your way to a porthole with a view of the sea.

    Oscar and Lucinda (1997)

  • I looked out the porthole of the plane into the transparent sky.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Looking through the porthole, Ahl saw the great red glare of the funeral fire.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Bored, he gazed out of the portholes into the night.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Henry Belt turned to look at Culpepper, who was standing by the porthole, photographing Jupiter with his personal camera.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The ship had a large porthole that allowed passengers to enjoy the breathtaking ocean view.

  • She pressed her face against the porthole to see the colorful fish swimming outside.

Synonyms

viewport
vsporthole
2 6.0

A small window in a door or vehicle that lets you look through

is a circular side window on boats or aircraft rather than a viewing hole
portlight
vsporthole
  • US
7.5

A small round window in the side of a ship or boat

is similar but also applies to aircraft as well as boats

How Big

porthole
8 5.1
peephole
19 2.9

Surface Forms

porthole singular
portholes plural

Morphology

porthole = port + hole (transparent) = port + hole

Standard compound 'port' + 'hole' referring to a small circular window in the side of a ship or aircraft, which is directly interpretable from the parts.

Etymology

Porthole comes from the parts port and hole, with port meaning 'door' and hole meaning 'opening'. People began to use it for the small round windows on ships and planes because a porthole is like a tiny 'door' for light and a view.