PORT-GREVE, or PORTGRAVE, was anciently the principal magistrate in ports and other maritime towns. The word is formed from the Saxon port, "a port or other town;" add gref, a "governor."—It is sometimes also written port-reve.
Camden observes, that the chief magistrate of London was anciently called port-greve: instead of whom, Richard I. ordained two bailiffs; and soon afterwards king John granted them a mayor for their yearly magistrate.