Why is the left side of a boat called "the port" and the right side "the starboard," and the windows all around the boat "portholes?"

TabbyTom

"Starboard" is from the Old English "stéorbord", where "stéor" means steering-paddle or rudder. According to the OED, " The etymological sense of the word refers to the mode of steering the early Teutonic ships, by means of a paddle worked over the right side of the vessel." The origin of "port" for the left-hand side of the ship is unknown, according to the OED and Chambers. "Port" in "porthole" is the French "porte" or Latin "porta", meaning a gate or door. Sep 17 03, 3:17 PM

mjk59

In the old days ships would tie up to a dock with it on their left side. Therefore the Port of call was on the leftside. Before rudders, a "stearboard" was on the aft right side of the vessel, hence the term Starboard. The hatches on the portholes were closed at sea, but open while in port. Sep 17 03, 4:46 PM

gmackematix

So why did "port" used to be "larboard"? Sep 17 03, 7:46 PM

RickF

My OED infers that "port" comes from the side of the ship that would have been nearest the harbour wall - presumably to stop damaging the steering paddle. And isn't the "proper" name for a porthole a scuttle? Sep 18 03, 3:20 AM

Create a Free FunTrivia ID to add to, request more/new answers, or edit this entry

Is it an urban myth that all polar bears are left handed? What happened to the Mary Celeste after it was found? Was it taken back to shore for it to be examined? Was it just left there? What happened to all of the stuff that was left on the ship? On the U.S. penny, Lincoln faces to the right. On the quarter, Washington faces to the left. Is this significant at all? As the song goes, "She got home on the last boat from Devonport, she's been smiling all the way." Where is Devonport in New Zealand, and is it that good that she's been smiling all the way?

1 A Small Pirate Ship is Called a Thug-boat Some pirates were thugs, some were aristocrats, some were ladies, and some were all three! Follow me on a gentle pillage through the annals of pirate history both fact and fiction... Pirates Tough 10 Q Rowena8482 Jul 13 09 249 plays 2 'The Love Boat' This quiz is about one fantastic ship. I'm sure you remember the words to 'The Love Boat', right? I'll give you part of the song and you have to correctly pick the words that follow in sequence. Good luck and enjoy! Love Boat, The Difficult 10 Q JuniorTheJaws Nov 14 01 2613 plays 3 "Show Boat" (The Original) There have been many versions of this seminal work of the American Musical Theater; this quiz deals with the original version as perfomed in 1927. Good luck & have fun. S Difficult 25 Q jouen58 Mar 23 03 216 plays