this post was submitted on 27 May 2025
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[–] [email protected] 54 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (5 children)

It took me until this year to realize the port and starboard referred to what the ship was touching when docked. The left side goes to the port, the other side faces the stars.

I felt so dumb that I had completed Black Flag 3 times and never picked up on this.

[–] iAmTheTot 79 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Port used to be called larboard, and starboard is called that because it comes from middle English for "steering side", essentially. Not actually anything to do with stars. But the port thing is true, they had to dock to port on the left because of the steering oars.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

In German it's still "Steuerbord", "Steering board"

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