Portfolio
early 18th century: from Italian portafogli, from portare ‘carry’ + foglio ‘leaf’ (from Latin folium ).
wiktionary
From Italian portafoglio; cognate with French portefeuille(“folder, wallet”), from Latin portāre(“to carry”) and folium(“sheet”). The meaning "collection of responsibilities" came by extension in the 1930s.
etymonline
portfolio (n.)
"movable receptacle for detached papers or prints," 1722, porto folio; 1719 as port folio, from Italian portafoglio "a case for carrying loose papers," from porta, imperative of portare "to carry" (from PIE root *per- (2) "to lead, pass over") + foglio "sheet, leaf," from Latin folium (see folio). Usually something like a book cover with a flexible back, fastened with strings or clasps. Meaning "official documents of a state department" is from 1835, hence figuratively, of a minister of state. A minister without portfolio is one not in charge of a particular department. Meaning "collection of securities held" is from 1930; portfolio investment is from 1955.
