port
port number
1. <networking> A logical channel or channel endpoint in a
communications system. The {Transmission Control Protocol}
and {User Datagram Protocol} {transport layer} protocols used
on {Ethernet} use port numbers to distinguish between
(demultiplex) different logical channels on the same {network
interface} on a computer.
Each {application program} has a unique port number associated
with it, defined in /etc/services or the {Network Information
Service} "services" database. Some {protocols}, e.g. {telnet}
and {HTTP} (which is actually a special form of telnet) have
default ports specified as above but can use other ports as
well.
Some port numbers are defined in {RFC 3232} (which replaces
RFC 1700). Ports are now divided into: "Well Known" or
"Privileged", and "Ephemeral" or "Unprivileged" (comprising
"Registered", "Dynamic", "Private").
(2004-12-30)
2. <operating system, programming> To translate or modify
{software} to run on a different {platform}, or the results of
doing so. The {portability} of the software determines how
easy it is to port.
3. <language> An {imperative language} descended from {Zed}
from {Waterloo Microsystems} (now {Hayes} Canada) ca. 1979.
["Port Language" document in the Waterloo Port Development
System].
(2002-06-19)