porthole

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a small, usually circular window in the side of a ship, aircraft, or similar vehicle

   Sunlight entered the cabin through a brass-rimmed porthole.

2. 2
   noun

   historical: an opening in a ship's side through which a cannon could be fired

   The gun crew opened the porthole before running out the cannon.

Formed from port + hole. Port first named an opening in a ship's side, especially a gunport; porthole later became the ordinary name for the small round glazed window characteristic of ships and some aircraft.

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