starboard

      English

      Etymology

      Middle English sterbord, from Old English stēor (steer) +‎ bord (side (of a ship)). Ships had to dock on their left (port) side because the steering oar on the right would get in the way, which is how the left became known as the port side.

      Pronunciation

      • (US) IPA: /ˈstɑɹbɚd/

      Noun

      starboard (plural starboards)

      1. The right hand side of a ship, boat or aircraft when facing the front, or fore or bow. Starboard does not change based on the orientation of the person aboard the craft.
      2. (nautical) One of the two traditional watches aboard a ship standing a watch in two.

      Synonyms

      Antonyms

      Translations

      Verb

      starboard (third-person singular simple present starboards, present participle starboarding, simple past and past participle starboarded)

      1. (nautical, transitive) To put to the right, or starboard, side of a vessel.
        to starboard the helm

      See also

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      Last modified on 13 June 2013, at 19:25