‖ porte-|pɔrt|Fr. imperative of porter to bear, carry; used in combination with a n. as obj. in numerous compound words in Fr., several of which are more or less used in Eng.; the first element is occasionally anglicized as port-; and other words have been formed after these with the second element English (port-electric, port-fire, etc.). From French: porte-acide|-asid|, an instrument for the application of an acid to a part of the body. porte-aiguille|-egɥij|[F. aiguille needle], a fine forceps for holding a surgical needle; a needle-holder. porte-bonheur|-bɔnœr|[F. bonheur good luck], an amulet, or a trinket worn like an amulet. porte-bouquet|-buke|, a bouquet-holder. porte-caustique|-kostik|, also anglicized port-caustic, an instrument for applying a caustic. porte-feu|-fø| (port-feu) [F. feu fire]= port-fire. porte-lumière|-lymjɛr|[F. lumière light], an apparatus consisting of a mirror so arranged as to reflect light in any desired direction; used as a substitute for the heliostat. porte-parole|-parɔl|[F. parole word], a spokesman, a mouthpiece. See also portefeuille, etc.1890Billings Med.Dict., *Porte-acid, a glass tube through which a platinum wire passes carrying a tuft saturated with the acid to be applied.1857Dunglison Dict.Med., *Porte-aiguille, an instrument for accurately laying hold of a needle, and giving it greater length.1895in Syd. Soc.Lex.1884G. Moore Mummer's Wife (1887) 206 She had..a little gold *porte-bonheur..she had bought that morning.1839C. Schreiber Jrnl. (1950) 93 The Ex-Chancellor..took the nosegay in his hand, extricated it from the *porte-bouquet..and instead of giving the flowers into Mr. Pamther's expectant hands, he smelt them himself.1900Daily News 6 Nov. 6/1 Some of them [prizes] were cut chrysanthemums in artistically-carved porte-bouquets.1846F. Brittan tr.Malgaigne's Man. Oper. Surg. 274 Preference should always be given to a *porte-caustique like that of Ducamp for the urethra.1884M. Mackenzie Dis. Throat & Nose II. 252 An ingenious porte-caustique has been invented by Dr. Fauvel.1802James Milit.Dict.s.v.Entonnoir, the tin-case or *port-feu which is used to convey the priming powder into the touch-hole of a cannon.1656Blount Glossogr., *Porte-guidon, an Ensign-bearer to a troop of men at Arms.1884Century Mag. XXIX. 238/2 This apparatus consisted of a long photometer-box with a *porte lumière at one end.1946J. Flanner in New Yorker 23 Mar. 74/2 Milch gave the appearance of being Göring's *porte-parole.1966T. Reese Story of Accusation xi. 158 He is a lawyer. He is only a porte-parole.