starboard en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈstɑː.bəd/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈstɑɹ.bɚd/ (Canada, General-American)
- /ˈstaː.bəd/ (Australia)
- (General-American) audio
Etymology
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.
Meanings
-
(countable, uncountable) 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.
We're on starboard tack, so the other boat has to give way.
Now stow the mainsail as follows, preferably with the sail still lying in the starboard cockpit: beginning at the head, fold the upper section so that the upper two battens are aligned together; then tightly roll the sail from the head down to the foot. Reinsert the sail into its bag.
(Can we date this quote?), “RS Quest Rigging Instructions”, in California State University, Sacramento, page 3:I see another vessel off the starboard side.
- (countable, uncountable) One of the two traditional watches aboard a ship standing a watch in two.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| starboards | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
left · port · larboard · backboard · leeboard
Deriveds
starboardside · starboard-side · astarboard
Descendants
Synonyms
Translations (39)
bg щи́рборд (right hand side of a vessel) · myv витьвенчире (right hand side of a vessel) · fr tribord (right hand side of a vessel) · pt estibordo (right hand side of a vessel) · tl estribor (right hand side of a vessel) · es estribor (right hand side of a vessel) · el δεξιά πλευρά πλοίου (right hand side of a vessel) · da styrbord (right hand side of a vessel) · eo tribordo (right hand side of a vessel) · ro tribord (right hand side of a vessel) · ka მარჯვენა ბორტი (right hand side of a vessel) · nn styrbord (right hand side of a vessel) · yi רעכטער באָרט (right hand side of a vessel) · cy starbord (right hand side of a vessel) · cmn 右舷 (right hand side of a vessel) · nb styrbord (right hand side of a vessel) · is stjórnborði (right hand side of a vessel) · sv styrbord (right hand side of a vessel) · cs pravobok (right hand side of a vessel) · ru пра́вый борт (right hand side of a vessel) · it dritta (right hand side of a vessel) · tr sancak (right hand side of a vessel) · ca estribord (right hand side of a vessel) · fi tyyrpuuri (right hand side of a vessel) · nl stuurboord (right hand side of a vessel) · ota سنجاق (right hand side of a vessel) · pl sterburta (right hand side of a vessel) · ka მარჯვენა ქიმი (right hand side of a vessel) · bg щирбо́рд (right hand side of a vessel) · it tribordo (right hand side of a vessel) · gd bòrd-beulaibh (right hand side of a vessel) · de Steuerbord (right hand side of a vessel) · ga deasbhord (right hand side of a vessel) · fi styyrpuuri (right hand side of a vessel) · nrf tribord (right hand side of a vessel) · ko 우현 (right hand side of a vessel) · ja 右舷 (right hand side of a vessel) · pt boreste (right hand side of a vessel) · mi matau (right hand side of a vessel)