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lilhokie525 OP
Jul 03, 2026 at 07:24 AM ET
today's trivia
Prior to it becoming officially known as “port” in the 1840’s, what was the name given to the left side of a ship?

17 Replies

chumley chumley
…red right return
E
EDGEMAN
I set up two night lights in my bedroom where...
...as you step into the room the one on the right is red, and the one on the left is green...lol
reestuart reestuart
larboard
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lilhokie525 OP
ding, ding, ding, correct!
The name was changed to prevent confusion as “larboard” and “starboard” sounded a lot alike in the heat of battle. The name port came from the steering oar being located on the starboard side of a sailing ship. To avoid breaking it during docking, ships usually had their larboard sides against the pier.
reestuart reestuart
I think I saw it in a book when I was a kid. I'm not 100% sure. JPJ bio?
No other reason for me to know.
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EDGEMAN
The RN changed it to port because larboard sounded too much like starboard.
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Va AandM
Sinister? Like everything associated with lefties
TomTurkey TomTurkey
Only people in the right brain
Tuckahokie Tuckahokie
8 Presidents were left-handed...we out-kicked our coverage!!!
santafe santafe
The left side of the ship! Wild guess… :)
Vtskier1 Vtskier1
“That side”….🤔
Stork Stork
“Thataway”
TomTurkey TomTurkey
Over yonder
Stork Stork
If the navy guys don’t get this, they are forever banned from buying tax
free batteries at the Exchange.
Tuckahokie Tuckahokie
Hangovers from "Military Special" booze...there may be worse ones, but they
gotta' be Top 5
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EDGEMAN
How about tax free booze?
Stork Stork
I still sneak into the package store periodically. I was trained well.