starboard

1 of 3

noun

star·​board ˈstär-bərd How to pronounce starboard (audio)
: 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
When the blackout occurred, the ship’s rudder was turned 3 degrees to the starboard side and remained stuck there as the vessel drifted off course. —USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024 The buoy is naturally bright orange, but it is mounted behind a hatch on the starboard side that elegantly blends into the tan hull. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for starboard 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'starboard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of starboard was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near starboard

starbloom

starboard

starboard bow

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Starboard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/starboard. Accessed 31 May. 2024.

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Kids Definition

starboard

1 of 2 noun
star·​board ˈstär-bərd How to pronounce starboard (audio)
: 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.

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