Nomenclature

[Destroyer]

Hi all

I like to find out the meaning of words... how they came into being. It occured to me not long ago that, as a sailor, I was using port, starboard etc and I didn't know where they came from, or, for that matter, why were the rules of the road the way they were for ships. So I did some research.

Here's the answers... I hope you guys find it as facinating to you as it was to me. (It may even help you to remember which side of the boat is which.)

Long, long, long, ago, sailing ships didn't have rudders as we know of them today. (think of a Viking longboat) They had a board, lashed to the side of the ship. Since most people are right handed the right arm is the strong arm, and so they lashed the board to the right side of the boat.

That became known as the steering board side of the boat or, the steerboard side., and through the years that became the starboard side.

Now, when they came into port, naturally they didn't want the steering board to be crushed against the dock pilings, so they always put the other side of the boat against the dock. This was the dock side or the port side.

Taking it a bit further... the dock or port side of the boat is the most dangerous side. If you fall between the boat and the dock you can be crushed to death. They always painted the port side with red paint along the railings so that when the sailors were carrying heavy cargo bent over with their heads down they would be able to see which side of the boat they were on just by looking at the railings. The steerboard side, if you fell overboard, was safe so they used green paint on that side. At night, they would use red and green lanterns while working for the same reason since they couldn't see the paint.

Finally, while sailing, when two ships are on a crossing course, the ship on the starboard (right) side has the right of way. The reason for this was because the sailing ships were usually piled high with cargo on the decks. The person on the steering board side of the ship has a clear view over to the ship on his right, but the person on the other ship had to look over the cargo on the deck to see the ship on his left. So the ship on the left has to give way to the ship on the right because the ship on the right has less of a view.

There you have it. Now you all know why we call a ships left side the port side and why we call the right side the starboard side and why we use red and green lights for those sides. Hopefully you'll also remember which ship has the right of way when you are in a crossing situation while on the water.

Red skys at night to everyone.

[Blue_Runner]

Pretty work! Very interesting....I learned something today!

[lumberslinger178]

skooled me

red skies in morning sailors take warning.....

[briguyny]

As an ex-English teacher I was immediately drawn to the topic of "nomenclature." I really enjoyed this short history lesson; I always enjoy things that have to do with linguistic derivation and nomenclative explanation. A job well done.

[reodds]

I never could understand by the Right side was not lighted Red. Now I know, thanks for the info, great job!