noun
porter
A worker who handles a building's routine upkeep.
The porter keeps the lobby clean and replaces burned-out light bulbs.
Etymology
The older word named a gatekeeper. Building use broadened that attendant role to routine care and upkeep of the premises.
More examples
- Our building's porter takes out the trash every morning.
- Two porters mop the hallways before the offices open.
- Please tell the porter about the spill near the elevator.
Forms
porter · porters
Similar words
- janitor
- Usually emphasizes cleaning and minor repairs rather than general service.
- custodian
- Often implies broader responsibility for caring for a building.