Larboard

[nathanlee]

Ok, I'm sure you might already know what I'm going to say, and I'm quite sure it must have been mentioned here before, but I did search the forum and found nothing so here goes...

Master and Commander. I just watched it for the third time (after a long gap between) and I'm sure I never before noticed the captain saying "to larboard" all the time.

So my question. Does this term have nautical roots or history, or was it just a cock up?

[BrendanS]

Very long roots and history

larboard
"left-hand side of a ship" (to a person on board and facing the bow), c.1300, ladde-borde, perhaps lit. "the loading side," if this was the side on which goods were loaded onto a ship, from laden "to load" + bord "ship's side." Altered 16c. on influence of starboard, then largely replaced by port (1). to avoid confusion of similar-sounding words. The O.E. term was bæcboard, lit. "back board" (see starboard).

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=larboard

[sarabande]

The centrally hung rudder was a development which required materials/technology not available till the late middle ages. Steering was generally by a long oar or "steering board" usually shipped on the opposite side to the one which a ship placed against the quay while berthed for loading. Hence "steerboard".

"Larboard" was too easily confused with "starboard" in the midst of toiling seas and howling winds, and so the word "portside" - referring to the side of the ship normally placed against the quay, was chosen to replace it.

[PCUK]

As said, Larboard was ladde-bord. It was gradually replaced around 18c as a matter of convention by officers referring to the side on which the entry port (which used to be the ladde-bord) was situated. Hence go to the "entry port side" which gradually became the port side. Nothing to do with the seaport cos' ships berth either side to.

[alant]

Also found these 'explainations' on google.

However, currently in Demark & local crew onboard, when asked, were totally mystified by larboard or laddebord. Their knowledge of Nordic languages could not come up with anything.

Starbord/steersboard, or Port (the side opposite the vulnerable rudder, which obviously is the harbour wall side) , are easily acceptable as explainations, but 'laddebord' needs a bit more I think.

[bbg]

Interesting that commercial aircraft / airports are set up the same way - one always enters the port side of the aircraft.

[BrendanS]

Scandinavian and old english in 1300 would be very different to their modern versions, so I'm not suprised modern day speakers don't recognise the words

[Gunfleet]

just to follow up Brendan's point, babord, as many of you will know, is port in French.

[cormorant]

Interesting the baecbord bit - the Dutch say bakboord and stuurboord so they would recognise the old English here.

[thalassa]

[ QUOTE ]
Interesting the baecbord bit - the Dutch say bakboord and stuurboord so they would recognise the old English here.

[/ QUOTE ]
Even in modern Dutch, a "laadbord" is a loading platform, in most cases on the rear of a lorry, or on an elevator.