Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left” and “right?”

Re:Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left”... by OJFord on Wednesday April 19, 2023 @02:44AM (#35625022)

To rig something up, to go overboard, to leave something in your wake.

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Re:Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left”... by chii on Wednesday April 19, 2023 @03:02AM (#35625166)

It's interesting that farming/agriculture and sailing both have left the legacy of their words into the language. It goes to show how important these industries are to civilization.

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Re:Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left”... by coldtea on Wednesday April 19, 2023 @04:54AM (#35625932)

The most important ones? Without internet we could live a cushy little 20th century existance.

Without farming/sailing we'd go 20000 years back

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Re:Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left”... by OJFord on Wednesday April 19, 2023 @06:59AM (#35626671)

The sheer number of people (thinking particularly historically, pre-industrialisation) involved in them I suppose.

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Re:Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left”... by rapnie on Wednesday April 19, 2023 @04:49AM (#35625905)

Let's go full steam ahead, and dredge up some more.

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Re:Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left”... by TeMPOraL on Wednesday April 19, 2023 @06:39AM (#35626533)

> steam

That's the hallmark of industrialization, right there :).

In case anyone thinks the important bits stopped at the age of sail.

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