Word
starboard
Phoneticsstar·board, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈstɑɹbɝd/
UK/stˈɑːbəd/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the right side of a ship or aircraft when you are looking toward the front. It is the opposite of the left side, which is called port.
n. the right-hand side of a vessel or aircraft when facing forward. Frequently contrasted with 'port' to avoid the ambiguity of 'left' and 'right' in a nautical context.
Examples
“The captain turned the ship to starboard.”
“As the ferry approached the island, passengers gathered on the starboard side to see the lighthouse.”
“Navigational regulations require vessels to yield to any craft approaching from the starboard side, a rule designed to prevent collisions in busy shipping lanes.”
Examples
simple
“The captain turned the ship to starboard.”
contextual
“As the ferry approached the island, passengers gathered on the starboard side to see the lighthouse.”
complex
“Navigational regulations require vessels to yield to any craft approaching from the starboard side, a rule designed to prevent collisions in busy shipping lanes.”
Usage
Often used as a modifier before another noun ('the starboard engine') or as a direction after 'to'.
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.
From star + board. The earliest known use was in 2013 on Meta Stack Exchange.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/starboard