star·board (stär'bərd) n. The right-hand side of a ship or aircraft as one faces forward. adj. On the right-hand side as one faces forward. adv. To or toward the right-hand side as one faces forward.
[Middle English sterbord, from Old English stēorbord : stēor-, a steering; see stā- in Indo-European roots + bord, side of a ship.]
O.E. steorbord, lit. "side on which a vessel was steered," from steor- "rudder, steering paddle" + bord "ship's side." Cf. O.N. stjornborði, Low Ger. stürbord, Ger. Steuerbord. Early Germanic peoples' boats were propelled and steered by a paddle on the right side. Fr. tribord (O.Fr. estribord), It. stribordo are Gmc. loan-words.