portass

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Noun

portass (plural portasses)

1. (obsolete) A breviary; a prayer book.

   • An old priest always read in his portass mumpsimus domine for sumpsimus; whereof when he was admonished, he said that he now had used mumpsimus thirty years, and would not leave his old mumpsimus for their new sumpsimus.

   • , The Shipman's Tale

     By God and by this portehors I swere.

   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, Faerie Queene

     In his hand his portesse still he bare, That much was worn, but therein little red; For of devotion he had little care.

   • , The Image of Both Churches

     Their portases, bedes, temples, aultars.

   • , An Enterlude called lusty Juventus

     Let me see your portous, gentle sir John.

   • 1553, [unknown translator], Stephen Gardiner, De vera obedientia

     Boner hath set up again in Paules Salesburi Latin portace.

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