starboard
English edit
Etymology edit
From Middle English sterbord, stere-bourd, stere-burd, from Old English stēorbord, from Proto-West Germanic *steurubord, equivalent to steer + board (“side (of a ship)”), referring to ancient ships with the steering oar set to the right (to accommodate right-handed crew). 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.[1]
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈstɑː.bəd/
Audio (Southern England) (file)
- (General American, Canada) IPA(key): /ˈstɑɹ.bɚd/
- (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈstaː.bəd/
Noun edit
starboard (countable and uncountable, plural starboards)
- The righthand side of a ship, boat or aircraft when facing the front, or fore or bow. Used to unambiguously refer to directions according to the sides of the vessel, rather than those of a crew member or object.
- (nautical) One of the two traditional watches aboard a ship standing a watch in two.
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
right hand side of a vessel
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Verb edit
starboard (third-person singular simple present starboards, present participle starboarding, simple past and past participle starboarded)
- (nautical, transitive) To put to the right, or starboard, side of a vessel.
- to starboard the helm
Translations edit
See also edit
References edit
- ^ “Why do ships use "port" and "starboard" instead of "left" and "right?"”, in Facts, NOAA, 2023 April 19 (last accessed)