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 dam

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