A person who holds open the door at the entryway (entrance) to a building, summons taxicabs, and provides an element of security; in apartment buildings, he also accepts deliveries and may perform certain concierge type services.
An equivalent room near the gate of a college, chiefly used as a mailroom.
A building for the porter(s) near the gate of a castle, college, etc., (historical) formerly used as a place of punishment for the staff.