[Spridgets] Starboard, larboard and port

Robert Evans b-evans at earthlink.net
Mon Nov 2 12:47:40 MST 2009


Just to add a little confusion.  The etymological origins of starboard is from
Old English (400-1100 AD) bsteorbordb, or bside on which a vessel was
steeredb and propelled by a paddle on the right side.



bPortb, on the other hand, is a relatively new word.  The port side of a
vessel was originally (c1300)  known at the blarboardb, or
bladde-bordeb or left side of the vessel which was the bloading sideb.
Beginning in the 16th century, mariners began to change to bportb to avoid
the confusion with bstarboardb.  Larboard, however, lingered on, even in
the Royal Navy, until c1800.


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