portage

/ˈpɔrdɪdʒ/

/ˈpɔtɪdʒ/

Other forms: portages

Portage is a payment, usually to the captain or owner of a boat, for carrying cargo. A portage is also a bridge between two waterways.

A business that sells goods to many parts of the world will probably pay portage at some point: a fee to a boat for carrying cargo. This is a bit of an old-fashioned word, and it mainly applies to boats (which you can remember from the word port: a place where boats dock). Also, a portage is a bridge-like track built on land that links waterways such as rivers. The purpose of that portage is also to transport goods.

Definitions of portage

1. noun

   carrying boats and supplies overland
   type of:

   carry

   the act of carrying something
2. noun

   the cost of carrying or transporting
   type of:

   cost

   the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor
3. noun

   overland track between navigable waterways
   type of:

   cart track, cartroad, track

   any road or path affording passage especially a rough one