Quote:
Originally Posted by KeelMe
Portholes and portlights are the same thing; port means you can pass something through it. Deadlights are non opening and only for light, not ventilation.
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It always amused me when people make declarative statements on the meaning of nautical terms. This is an international forum and regional usage varies. Your definitions are not my definitions.
The way I am used to the terms being used are as follows:
"porthole" is an opening with a cover in the side of a boat. It may either be fixed or "openable".
"portlight" is the transparent covering over a "porthole" i.e glass in a fixed porthole or the hinged frame and glass in an opening porthole.
"deadlight" or "storm cover" is a non-transparent porthole cover.
I can provide links to matching definitions if you want.
But then again, I can also provide links to conflicting definitions.
Back to the OP's question - in this case, I'd take "portholes" to mean all of the "windows" in the sides of the boat.
Trivia: The name "port" in "porthole" comes from the French "porte" or door (nothing to do with passing something through it). And dates back to the first ships with gun
ports.