The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Porter \Por"ter\, n. [F. portier, L. portarius, from porta a
   gate, door. See Port a gate.]
   A man who has charge of a door or gate; a doorkeeper; one who
   waits at the door to receive messages. --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

         To him the porter openeth.               --John x. 3.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Porter \Por"ter\, n. [F. porteur, fr. porter to carry, L.
   portare. See Port to carry.]
   1. A carrier; one who carries or conveys burdens, luggage,
      etc.; for hire.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Forging) A bar of iron or steel at the end of which a
      forging is made; esp., a long, large bar, to the end of
      which a heavy forging is attached, and by means of which
      the forging is lifted and handled in hammering and
      heating; -- called also porter bar.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A malt liquor, of a dark color and moderately bitter
      taste, possessing tonic and intoxicating qualities.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: Porter is said to be so called as having been first
         used chiefly by the London porters, and this
         application of the word is supposed to be not older
         than 1750.
         [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Beer \Beer\, n. [OE. beor, ber, AS. be['o]r; akin to Fries.
   biar, Icel. bj?rr, OHG. bior, D. & G. bier, and possibly E.
   brew. [root]93, See Brew.]
   1. A fermented liquor made from any malted grain, but
      commonly from barley malt, with hops or some other
      substance to impart a bitter flavor.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: Beer has different names, as small beer, ale,
         porter, brown stout, lager beer, according to its
         strength, or other qualities. See Ale.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. A fermented extract of the roots and other parts of
      various plants, as spruce, ginger, sassafras, etc.
      [1913 Webster]

   Small beer, weak beer; (fig.) insignificant matters. "To
      suckle fools, and chronicle small beer." --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

porter
    n 1: a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
    2: someone who guards an entrance [syn: doorkeeper, doorman,
       door guard, hall porter, porter, gatekeeper,
       ostiary]
    3: United States writer of novels and short stories (1890-1980)
       [syn: Porter, Katherine Anne Porter]
    4: United States composer and lyricist of musical comedies
       (1891-1946) [syn: Porter, Cole Porter, Cole Albert
       Porter]
    5: United States writer of short stories whose pen name was O.
       Henry (1862-1910) [syn: Porter, William Sydney Porter,
       O. Henry]
    6: a railroad employee who assists passengers (especially on
       sleeping cars) [syn: porter, Pullman porter]
    7: a very dark sweet ale brewed from roasted unmalted barley
       [syn: porter, porter's beer]
    v 1: carry luggage or supplies; "They portered the food up Mount
         Kilimanjaro for the tourists"