E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Larboard,
now called port (q.v.). (Starboard is from Anglo-Saxon steorabord, the steer-board, or right side of a ship.) Larboard is the French bâbord, the left-hand side of a ship looking towards the prow; Anglo-Saxon bœc-bord.
1
“She gave a heel, and then a lurch to port,
And going down head foremost—sunk in short.”
Byron: Don Juan (The Shipicreck).
“To give a heel” is to sway over on one side. Here it means a heel to the starboard side.
“To give a heel” is to sway over on one side. Here it means a heel to the starboard side.
