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Glite Dictionary
⬅️ The left side ⬅️ On the left side
portside

portside

4.3
On the left side of a ship or plane when facing forward
  • adjective
  • /ˈpɔrtˌsaɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : babor
  • Passengers gathered on the portside deck to watch the sunset over the ocean.

Examples

  • The damage was limited to the portside wing of the aircraft after the storm.

  • Please take a seat on the portside bench.

  • The crew painted the portside railing bright red for better visibility.

  • The lifeboats are located on the portside of the ship.

  • The crew painted the portside railing bright red for better visibility.

  • Passengers gathered on the portside deck to watch the sunset over the ocean.

  • The lifeboats are located on the portside of the ship.

Synonyms

larboard
vsportside
  • Archaic
3 9.9

The left side of a ship or plane when you face forward

is the modern standard term replacing the older expression
aport
vsportside
  • Specialized
1 9.9

On the left side of a ship or boat when facing forward

is the general word for being on or toward that left side
port
vsportside
  • Specialized
6.2

On the left side of a ship or aircraft when facing forward

is the modern preferred term for the same side
leftwards
vsportside
2.6

Toward the left side

is specific to ships and aircraft rather than general movement toward the left side

Surface Forms

portside positive

Morphology

portside = port + side (transparent) = port + side

Clear compound of 'port' (left side) + 'side'; the meaning is directly the left side of a vessel or aircraft.

Etymology

Portside comes from the word port, which means 'harbour'; sailors often tied the left side of a ship to the port when loading, so they began calling that side the portside, and today portside is used to describe something on the left side of a ship or aircraft when you face forward.