Bible Encyclopedias
Portesse, Portasse, Porteus, or Portiforium

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

are technical terms applied to the Breviary, or a portable book of prayer used in the Church of Rome, and containing the mass and the other parts of tie Church service to be said through the year at canonical hours, with the exception of the marriage service. The terms are derived from the Latin portiobrium (a portatndoforas), through the Frenchporte-hors, hence portasse, portas. The foreign breviaries were divided according to the four seasons, but in England into winter and summer parts.