# Origin of nautical terms **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [August 3, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019 "2010-08-03T16:17:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/1 "2010-08-03T16:17:33Z")
> **[What’s the origin of nautical terms like “jibe,” “tack,” etc.?](https://www.straightdope.com/21344027/what-s-the-origin-of-nautical-terms-like-jibe-tack-etc)** > > A STAFF REPORT FROM THE STRAIGHT DOPE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD Nice job, **Matt**! I learned a lot from your article. Lubbers who get confused between port and starboard need only remember that “port” and “left” both have four letters. Port is on your left as you face the bow (front) of the boat. ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/2 "2010-08-03T17:08:29Z")
Thanks, **EH**. ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/3 "2010-08-03T18:00:36Z")
A fun joke to use on nautical people when boarding a boat is to say “Which side is Port and which is Sherry?” Slays 'em every time. But to my real topic: the nautical term “jibe” (to change direction) doesn’t jibe with the _other_ meaning of “jibe” (to fall in line with.) I find that interesting. Also, we’ve already had the [“whole nine yards”](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/504/whats-the-origin-of-the-whole-nine-yards) discussion, but what about “three sheets to the wind” – nautical, no? ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/4 "2010-08-03T19:18:37Z")
> [@Karen\_Lingel](#): > > Also, we’ve already had the [“whole nine yards”](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/504/whats-the-origin-of-the-whole-nine-yards) discussion, but what about “three sheets to the wind” – nautical, no? On a sailboat a sheet is not the sail, but a line used to control it; something landsmen find confusing. Having one of these loose (flapping around lost to the whims of the wind) is a sign of bad seamanship. If three such lines are loose, you probably aren’t controlling the sails at all anymore or setting a straight course - kind of like when you’re too drunk to walk a straight course on land. David Wilton of [the Word Origins blog](http://www.wordorigins.org/index.php/site/three_sheets_to_the_wind/) confirms this interpretation. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/5 "2010-08-03T19:18:59Z")
But why is it called the dog watch? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/6 "2010-08-03T21:58:34Z")
Congrats, Matt (paperbackwriter)! I’m delighted that Staff Reports are back in action! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/7 "2010-08-04T12:33:05Z")
Agreed. Love the Staff Reports. Let’s see some more ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/8 "2010-08-04T16:03:44Z")
Saw a bumper sticker once that said, “Starboard wine is green.” ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/9 "2010-08-04T18:07:58Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > But why is it called the dog watch? Because it is curtailed. ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/10 "2010-08-04T18:23:35Z")
> [@John\_W.Kennedy](#): > > Saw a bumper sticker once that said, “Starboard wine is green.” OK, that took me a sec … ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/11 "2010-08-04T19:52:30Z")
A question. Do ships still have any preference or requirement to dock with their port side toward the dock, even though the original need for that is gone? (The starboard side no longer bearing the steering apparatus.) ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/12 "2010-08-05T02:25:15Z")
Somewhat guessing here, but with some boating experience. For sail boats, would depend on the wind, I imagine - with many docks having a prevailing wind that, erm, prevails - and what other obstacles there might be at the dock. That is, for sail boats that are coasting in, having just dropped sail. For power boats, not as much, but some boats will have ‘screws’ (propellers) that because of direction of rotation and how they’re centered on the boat will affect how the boat maneuvers in one direction or another - maybe favoring one side of the boat or the other. That is, I’m not sure it would always be the port side that’s favored. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/13 "2010-08-05T11:52:08Z")
> [@John\_W.Kennedy](#): > > Saw a bumper sticker once that said, “Starboard wine is green.” But in the US only on the way out. On the way in, it’s red. > [@paperbackwriter](#): > > If three such lines are loose, you probably aren’t controlling the sails at all anymore or setting a straight course - kind of like when you’re too drunk to walk a straight course on land. A ship (in centuries past) was a vessel with three or more masts, but usually just three. So my guess is that the number three was chosen because it means _all_ the sheets were loose. > [@Bytegeist](#): > > Do ships still have any preference or requirement to dock with their port side toward the dock, even though the original need for that is gone? (The starboard side no longer bearing the steering apparatus.) On cargo vessels usually no. Some vessels have offset cranes which have greater outreach to one side which might make orientation important. Generally though its a matter of what suits the port and tidal conditions and loading/discharging facilities as to whether the vessel berths port side-to or starboard side-to at any given berth at any given time. The number of reasons for one orientation or the other is too many and varied to try to list. Some examples: in a river berth the vessel is going to go out the way it came in and so it will have to swing (turn around) either on berthing or unberthing. It might well suit to do this when the vessel is unloaded rather than loaded due to draft considerations, or due to prevailing tide or current. In another berth I’m familiar with they like to berth starboard side to because that means the prevailing wind is usually on the starboard bow. This means that to get off they often only need one tug: just let go headlines, allow the wind to push the bow off and then go forward. And so on… ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/14 "2010-08-05T13:47:42Z")
> [@Civil\_Guy](#): > > Somewhat guessing here, but with some boating experience. […] > [@Princhester](#): > > On cargo vessels usually no. […] Thanks for the answers! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/15 "2010-08-05T16:01:55Z")
When I was little I noted the Navy ships docked on the river in my hometown for it’s equivalent of “Fleet Week”. Always starboard side against the seawall. They were facing upstream in this situation. Easier to slowly approach the seawall heading upstream I think. So my way of remembering port/starboard is that the port side is the opposite side of how I picture a docked ship.:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/16 "2010-08-05T17:55:35Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > A ship (in centuries past) was a vessel with three or more masts, but usually just three. So my guess is that the number three was chosen because it means _all_ the sheets were loose. Except that on a ship rig, there are usually at least three sails per mast, e.g., the main course (or just main), main top, main topgallant, and on some (usually later) ships a main royal and main sky sail. Each sail has two sheets. Long story short: A ship has at least 18 sheets, so even if three are loose, there’s still 15 in place (it’s still very poor seamanship, though). ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/17 "2010-08-05T18:08:23Z")
**Princhester** and **Civil Guy** have basically answered **Bytegeist’s** question, but I thought I’d post some Google images to see if I could demonstrate the principle. [Freighters tied starboard side to on the lower Mississippi](http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=opera&q=LaPlace,+Louisiana&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=LaPlace,+St+John+the+Baptist,+Louisiana&gl=us&ei=v_taTNegGorksQPMttm3Dw&ved=0CBwQ8gEwAA&ll=30.052027,-90.582919&spn=0.0138,0.018561&t=h&z=16) [Tankers near Houston tied up on both sides](http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=29.728086,-95.022125&spn=0.013845,0.018561&t=h&z=16) [US navy ships tied up on both sides in Norfolk, VA](http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=36.950715,-76.329103&spn=0.025482,0.037122&t=h&z=15) ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/18 "2010-08-05T18:31:44Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > > [@John\_W.Kennedy](#): > > > > Saw a bumper sticker once that said, “Starboard wine is green.” > > But in the US only on the way out. On the way in, it’s red. This doesn’t make any sense to me at all. In the dark, if you see a green light and a red light, how do you know if the ship is coming or going? It seems to me the _only_ reason to put different colored lights on the port and starboard sides of a ship would be to _determine_ the direction the ship is traveling. If you switch them depending on which direction you are going, the only thing you accomplish is that an observer on shore always sees the green light to the right of the red light whether the ship is leaving or arriving. Unless you mean when the ship is going in reverse… ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/19 "2010-08-05T19:30:22Z")
> [@Karen\_Lingel](#): > > > [@Princhester](#): > > > > But in the US only on the way out. On the way in, it’s red. > > This doesn’t make any sense to me at all. In the dark, if you see a green light and a red light, how do you know if the ship is coming or going? It seems to me the _only_ reason to put different colored lights on the port and starboard sides of a ship would be to _determine_ the direction the ship is traveling. If you switch them depending on which direction you are going, the only thing you accomplish is that an observer on shore always sees the green light to the right of the red light whether the ship is leaving or arriving. > > Unless you mean when the ship is going in reverse… Two different things are being conflated: running lights and aids to navigation. Boh use red and green to indicate sides, and **Princhester** was making a joke about the old “Red Right Returning” mnemonic so many of us learned for the navigation aids. Longer explanation: The running lights on a vessel are indeed different colors: Red on the port (left) side and green on the starboard (right) side. You can see a good summary with explanatory diagrams [here](http://www.boatus.com/boattech/runlights.htm). The aids to navigation (i.e., the bouys, daymarkers, etc.) that mark a channel are also different colors based on which side of the channel they mark. Generally in North and South America, when you are returning to harbor, the ones that are red are supposed to be passed on your starboard (right) side and the ones that are green are supposed to be passed on your port (left) side. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019/20 "2010-08-05T19:36:26Z")
Perhaps an easier mental trick: red and port are shorter words than green and starboard. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nautical-terms/549019.md?page=2)