starboard

1 of 3

noun

star·​board ˈstär-bərd 

: the right side of a ship or aircraft looking forward compare port

starboard

2 of 3

adjective

: of, relating to, or situated to starboard

starboard

3 of 3

verb

starboarded; starboarding; starboards

transitive verb

: to turn or put (a helm or rudder) to the right

Examples of starboard in a Sentence

Noun

The ship turned to starboard.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The ship begins turning to starboard, to the right when facing forward. —Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024

The ship sank tilted on its starboard side and, as the oxygen ran out, their air pockets became toxic with carbon dioxide, which ultimately led to their deaths. —Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 5 Sep. 2024

Adjective

The collision ripped a hole in Barge 129’s starboard side. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Oct. 2022

The left main gear was good but the right main (the large forward gear leg on the starboard side of the Fury) would not fully lower and lock. —Eric Tegler, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022

Verb

To starboard is Vava II, the gleaming 315-foot superyacht owned by Alinghi Red Bull Racing chairman Ernesto Bertarelli, who has brought the Swiss team back into the America’s Cup after being absent for 14 years. —Chrissie McClatchie, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2024

The main living area features a comfortable lounge, a dining area to starboard, and a bar to port. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 17 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sterbord, from Old English stēorbord, from stēor- steering oar + bord ship's side — more at steer, board entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1605, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

starboard

1 of 2 noun

star·​board ˈstär-bərd 

: the right side of a ship or aircraft looking forward

starboard

2 of 2 adjective

: of, relating to, or situated to starboard

Etymology

Noun

Old English stēorbord "starboard, side of a ship from which it is steered," from stēor "steering oar" and bord "the side of a ship"

Word Origin

The word starboard has nothing whatever to do with stars. The star- part of the word used to be spelled stēor- in Old English and referred to the steering oar or rudder of a ship. In those days the rudder was located on the side of the ship to the right of a person facing toward the bow. Nowadays, of course, the rudder is at the stern. The -board part of the word refers not to a plank but to a whole side of a ship. This meaning survives today in the verb to board a ship or airplane. The side opposite the starboard is usually called the port. The name probably comes from the fact that this side faced the port or dock when the ship was steered into a harbor. The port side is sometimes also called the larboard. The lar- part of this word was spelled lade- in Old English. It probably came from the verb laden, meaning "to load." So the larboard was the side from which the cargo was loaded and unloaded.