porthole

noun

port·​hole ˈpȯrt-ˌhōl 

1

: an opening (such as a window) with a cover or closure especially in the side of a ship or aircraft

2

: a port through which to shoot

3

: port entry 2 sense 2

Examples of porthole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Had those magnificent portholes survived? —New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026

Some 100 feet below the ocean's surface, Stephen Hawking peeked through the circular porthole of a submarine and saw the brilliant blue tropical water. —Scott Neuman, NPR, 9 Mar. 2026

Jack and Jackie’s third child had lived for thirty-nine hours and twelve minutes and died while his father peered in at him through the oxygen chamber’s porthole. —Steven Levingston, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026

Guests on board can find inside rooms, ocean-view rooms with portholes, rooms with a Verandah, amenity-heavy Concierge suites, and several extraordinary Royal Suites. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

port entry 2

First Known Use

1569, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for porthole

• bankroll
• bedroll
• borehole
• cajole
• catchpole
• charcoal
• condole
• control
• dipole
• downhole
• enroll
• extol

Kids Definition

porthole

noun

port·​hole ˈpōrt-ˌhōl 

ˈpȯrt-

1

: an opening in the side of a ship or aircraft

2

: an opening to shoot through