potrages

Potrages is a term that can refer to several different concepts, primarily related to the act of searching or a specific type of search. In some contexts, it is used as a plural noun meaning "searches" or "quests," evoking a sense of undertaking multiple investigations or endeavors. This usage is often found in literature or more formal settings where a descriptive term for a series of pursuits is required.

More commonly, "potrages" might be understood as a misspelling or a less standard variant of "portages." A portage is a land route that connects two navigable waterways. Historically, portages were crucial for transportation, especially for Indigenous peoples and early European explorers who needed to move canoes and goods between rivers or lakes that were not directly connected. Travelers would carry their boats and supplies overland from one body of water to another. The term can also refer to the act of carrying the boat and equipment across this land route.

In modern usage, the term "portage" still applies to designated trails or routes used for this purpose, particularly in areas with extensive waterways like Canada and the northern United States. These routes are often maintained for recreational canoeing and kayaking. Without further context, "potrages" is most likely referring to portages, either as the routes themselves or the action of traversing them.