Larboard or Port


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Posted by John Wilson on January 18, 2003 at 04:38:00 from 203.96.58.8 user hugo.

The use of Larboard for Port was raised a while age, when someone said it was probably changed, as it could sound like Starboard.

Larboard was replaced by Port in 1844 by Admiralty order after the introduction of steam, because Starboard and Larboard sounded much alike when giving orders to helmsman. Starboard came from steer board when small ships were steered by an oar or paddle on the right hand side. Port possibly came from ships putting the left hand side (without the oar) to the wharf or jetty and so the ship was boarded through an entry “port”.

This is from the book “Salt Water Quiz” by Taffrail (1952), from his regular item on the BBC Children’s Hour. “Taffrail” who had 39 years in the Royal Navy wrote several novels & books with nautical themes, and some books on medals & decorations under his real name, Henry Taprell Dorling (1883-1963).



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