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[-] BlackPenguins@lemmy.world 18 points 1 year ago

Is there a reason they don't just say left and right?

[-] Depress_Mode@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Historically, boats had rudders (or “steer boards”) along the side of the ship instead of in the middle like we’d see them today. It was always on the right side of the boat, so to avoid smashing your rudder into the dock, you’d dock your ship on the other side. That means it was always the left side that literally faced the port, while starboard faced out into open water to protect that side from damage.

[-] Vent@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago

TIL about steer boards, thanks!

medieval ships, lots of which have steer boards

[-] jarfil@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

rudders (or “steer boards”)

The "board" part comes from "side of a ship", as in "the board where the steer is attached".

Same meaning as in "going over-board".

[-] 2nsfw2furious@lemmynsfw.com 3 points 1 year ago
[-] jarfil@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

"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)"

https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/starboard

[-] Depress_Mode@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Correct. Sailors aren’t known for their diction lol

[-] DogMuffins@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 year ago

whaat.

This makes so much sense.

[-] elscallr@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

Then you have to say something like "your left or mine?" This removes any ambiguity, and that might matter when one is at sea.

[-] Peppycito@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago

Also, port is red and Starboard is green. Usually boats will colour the sheets to match. It helps to identify the lines when someone tells you to ease the port sheet.

this post was submitted on 06 Oct 2023
772 points (99.0% liked)

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