portlinessn.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 257/1 Portlynesse, magnificence.

1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke i. f. 8^v A tendre young virgin, not set furth to the worlde..by famousnesse of name, not with portlynesse of life, ne with the other thynges whiche this world vseth to haue in high regarde.

1580 T. Blundeville Foure Offices Horsemanship (rev. ed.) 4 b His portlinesse in his gate.

1614 R. Carew Excellencie Eng. Tongue in W. Camden Remaines (rev. ed.) 43 When substantialnesse combineth with delightfulnesse,..seemelinesse with portlinesse, and currantnesse with stayednesse, how can the language..sound other then most full of sweetnes?

1721 J. Midriff Observ. Spleen & Vapours 47 If we also regard the said Sir Anthony, with respect to many other Qualifications and Endowments, which recommend those who are advanced unto the highest Honours, the Portliness of his Person, and stately Behaviour, ought not to be overlooked.

1794 E. Gunning Packet II. v. 39 I defy Sir William Montreville to hold a candle to my young master for beauty and portliness.

1852 J. W. Redfield Compar. Physiognomy 180 Whatever is important in their estimation must come from themselves, must be derived from their own portliness.

1977 Jrnl. Amer. Oriental Soc. 97 127/2 Their deportment should reflect portliness, dignity, seriousness and maturity and..the merchant obviously is regarded here as of the same social standing as a royal minister.

1658 J. Rowland tr. T. Moffett Theater of Insects in Topsell's Hist. Four-footed Beasts (rev. ed.) 892 As he doth excell all the rest in portliness and feature of body.

1838 Southern Literary Messenger Oct. 671 Colonel, now general Morris, is a little under the medium height, his person inclined to portliness.

1877 Appletons' Jrnl. Mar. 253/2 The priest descended the staircase, making it creak with the burden of his portliness.

1925 E. A. Powell Beyond Utmost Purple Rim xii. 296 She is by no means as stout as suggested by her pictures, the impression of portliness being due in part to her voluminous white garments.

1993 W. Self My Idea of Fun (BNC) 78 He concluded by reviewing the sexual properties of portliness, noting that, if you are fat enough, you can develop love-handles specially adapted for oral sex.