ALL meanings of cinque ports
Cinque Ports
C c - noun plural cinque ports an association of ports on the SE coast of England, originally consisting of Hastings, Romney, Hythe, Dover, and Sandwich, which from late Anglo-Saxon times provided ships for the king's service in return for the profits of justice in their courts. The Cinque Ports declined with the growth of other ports and surrendered their charters in 1685 3
- noun cinque ports group of towns (orig. five: Hastings, Romney, Hythe, Dover, and Sandwich) on the SE coast of England: they formerly (11th-15th cent.) received privileges in return for providing naval defense at a time when England had no navy 3