portreeve noun. ['pɔ:tri:v]
[Old English portġerēfa, from PORT noun² + ġerēfa REEVE noun¹.]
1. Orig., the ruler or chief officer of a town or borough, after the Norman Conquest often identified with or of the status of a mayor; a borough-reeve. Later, an officer subordinate to a mayor; a bailiff. OE.

2. An official in charge of a port (PORT noun¹ 2). E17.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲