BBB Etymology - Starboard and Port

Starboard appeared in English around 893 A.D. and comes from the Old English word "steorbord," based on the elements "steor" (steering paddle) and "bord" (meaning, in this case, the side of a boat). According to the OED, " The etymological sense of the word [starboard] refers to the mode of steering the early Teutonic ships, by means of a paddle worked over the right side of the vessel." It would be "inconvenient" to dock a boat against the side with the steering mechanism, so the left side would be "to port".