Definition: Portsmouth Va, also known as Portchester, is a town in Southampton, Hampshire, England. The town was founded by the Romans around 830 AD as the Roman settlement of Portus. The name is derived from the Latin portus, meaning "port," and the Anglo-Saxon word "Va" meaning "village." The term "Portsmouth Va" refers to the fortified town that was established here in the early Middle Ages, and the name itself carries a sense of importance, especially when it's used in a religious context.