Port and starboard are nautical terms of orientation that deal unambiguously with the structure of vessels and aircraft, referring respectively to the left and right sides of the vessel, seen by an observer aboard the aircraft or vessel looking forward.

Why is port left and starboard right?

When looking forward, toward the bow of a ship, port and starboard refer to the left and right sides, respectively. ... Sailors began calling the right side the steering side, which soon became "starboard" by combining two Old English words: stéor (meaning "steer") and bord (meaning "the side of a boat").

What are the 4 sides of a ship called?

Now let's learn the words for the front, rear, left and right sides of the boat. The front of a boat is called the bow, while the rear of a boat is called the stern. When looking towards the bow, the left-hand side of the boat is the port side. And starboard is the corresponding word for the right side of a boat.