PORT, a harbour, river, or haven, formed either by nature or art to receive and shelter shipping from the storms and waves of the open sea.
Artificial ports are those which are either formed by throwing a strong mound or rampire across the harbour's mouth to some island or rock, or erecting two long barriers, which stretch from the land on each side like arms or the horns of a crescent, and nearly inclose the haven; the former of these are called mole-heads and the later piers.