Other forms: passports
A passport is the little official book with your photo that lets you cross borders. Show your passport, a British passport, renew the passport.
It certifies who you are and which state will speak for you; the visa is separate and is permission to enter. Modern ones carry a chip with the same details as the printed page. Figuratively a passport to something is what opens the way. Note that the word is French, pass plus port.
1nounpassportThe official book that lets you cross borders.
“Don't forget your passport, or they won't let you on the plane.”
passport is a document.
French passeport is passer, to pass, plus port, a harbour or gate. It was permission to pass through a port.
French
passeport
English, today
passport
From French passeport, from passer + port. Compare portpass. Equivalent to pass + port.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA