To the Editor of the "Nortu-Cama Dairy News."
(Srr,—Your correspondent Ferguson,"' in seeking information as to the origin of the nautical terms "Starboard," Larboard" land "Port," has propounded a query to which it is not possible to give a definite or a complete answer. The following explanation may, however, convey sufficient information to settle the dispute in which "Ferguson" appears to be involved, and to benefit the charity to which he refers.
"Larboard" ('Port') and "Starboard," used to express the sides of a ship, are very old, and the etymology of the former is uncertain. Some light on the history of the latter may be obtained by reference to its Norwegian equivalent "styrbord," and it is probable that both "Starboard" and "Larboard" (the old Norwegian "bibord" which has been replaced by the modern "'hire'"') owe their origin to a common source.
One of the "'sights'' in Christiania is the Viking ships, relics of a period when the Vikings visited, for commercial or warlike purposes, most of the coasts of Europe, Greenland and Iceland, and, it is claimed, discovered America.
One of the most striking features of these vessels is the peculiar steering arrangement—a kind of large oar fixed by means of a pivot to the outside of the vessel, on the right-hand side, a short distance from the stern. As this was used to steer, (Norwegian "'styre'"') the right side of the vessel was called the "styrbord" or steerside. The tiller was fixed to the top of the peculiar rudder.
While the definite origin of "Larboard" appears to be unknown, it seems safe to assume that this, too, is Norwegian. The word "babord," which was replaced by "hire" in (about) 1913, had been used on Norwegian ships for centuries, and its similarity in sound to that of "larboard" may account for the latter having been in general use for so long.
As to the origin of '"Port;" there appears to be no etymology to this word in its nautical sense. In an indefinite but comparatively recent period, the term "larboard" was given up in favour of "port," on account of the latter being shorter and more distinctive in' sound.
Possibly one of your Norwegian readers could throw further light on the whole subject.
I am, ete.,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.