Porte (n.) Look up Porte at Dictionary.com
"Ottoman court at Constantinople," c.1600, from French, in full, la Sublime Porte, translation of Arabic al-Bab al-'Ali, literally "lofty gate," official name of the central office of the Ottoman government (cf. Vatican for "the Papacy," White House for "the United States"). Supposedly a reference to the ancient custom of holding royal audience in the doorway of a king's palace or tent.