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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Porter \Por"ter\, n. [F. portier, L. portarius, from porta a
gate, door. See {Port} a gate.]
A man who has charge of a door or gate; a doorkeeper; one who
waits at the door to receive messages. --Shak.
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To him the porter openeth. --John x. 3.
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Porter \Por"ter\, n. [F. porteur, fr. porter to carry, L.
portare. See {Port} to carry.]
1. A carrier; one who carries or conveys burdens, luggage,
etc.; for hire.
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2. (Forging) A bar of iron or steel at the end of which a
forging is made; esp., a long, large bar, to the end of
which a heavy forging is attached, and by means of which
the forging is lifted and handled in hammering and
heating; -- called also {porter bar}.
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3. A malt liquor, of a dark color and moderately bitter
taste, possessing tonic and intoxicating qualities.
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Note: Porter is said to be so called as having been first
used chiefly by the London porters, and this
application of the word is supposed to be not older
than 1750.
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Beer \Beer\, n. [OE. beor, ber, AS. be['o]r; akin to Fries.
biar, Icel. bj?rr, OHG. bior, D. & G. bier, and possibly E.
brew. [root]93, See {Brew}.]
1. A fermented liquor made from any malted grain, but
commonly from barley malt, with hops or some other
substance to impart a bitter flavor.
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Note: Beer has different names, as {small beer}, {ale},
{porter}, {brown stout}, {lager beer}, according to its
strength, or other qualities. See {Ale}.
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2. A fermented extract of the roots and other parts of
various plants, as spruce, ginger, sassafras, etc.
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{Small beer}, weak beer; (fig.) insignificant matters. "To
suckle fools, and chronicle small beer." --Shak.
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