Definition of portmanteau

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< portly

portmanteau morph >

port·man·teau    (pôrt-mnt, prt-, pôrtmn-t, prt-) KEY 

NOUN:
pl. port·man·teaus or port·man·teaux  (-tz, -tz) KEY 

A large leather suitcase that opens into two hinged compartments.

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ETYMOLOGY:
French portemanteau : porte-, from porter, to carry (from Old French; see port⁵) + manteau, cloak (from Old French mantel, from Latin mantellum)