Fun facts about boating terms

by Buttons Padin
Many years ago before the development of centerline rudders, boats were steered by a long oar hanging off the aft right quarter of the boat. Starboard comes from the Old English “stéor” (meaning steer) and “board” (meaning “the side of the boat.”) Eventually, the two words combined into starboard meaning the right side of the boat.

But where did the term port come from? With the steering oar fixed on the starboard side, pulling the boat alongside a pier to starboard risked damaging the steering oar. As such, sailors would tie up with the steering oar outboard. That meant they were left side to the dock for loading. The Middle English “lade,” meaning to load cargo, combined with “board,” designating side to become “larboard.” A problem arose as starboard and larboard sound alike creating confusion.

Because the left side of a boat would be dockside in port, the British Navy in 1844 replaced “larboard” with “port.” The U.S. Navy followed suit in 1846 and now port and starboard are common vernacular.

Source: https://www.uksailmakers.com/news/why-port