The sheltered threshold before a door — where a house meets its visitors; in this house, every kin's own front step.
Latin porticus (a colonnade, covered walk), from porta (a gate, door), via Old French porche; the sheltered ground where a house first meets whoever has come to its door.
The sheltered ground before a door, where a house first meets whoever has come to it — here, every kin's own front step.