a former association of maritime towns in SE England: originally (1278) numbering five (Hastings, Romney, Hythe, Dover, and Sandwich) and receiving special privileges in return for aiding in the naval defense of England.
Origin: 1275–1325; ME cink pors < OF cink porz.See cinque, port1
1191 (in L.), 1297 (in Eng.), from L. quinque portus, Hastings, Sandwich, Dover, Romney, and Hythe, granted special privileges from the crown in return for defense of the Channel in the days before England had a navy.
[singk] 
