A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1513-1699
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Stereburd, Steirburd(e, n. Also: sterbord, steirbuird(e, stireboard, starboord. [Late ME and e.m.E. stere-bourde (?a1400), sterborde (1495), starrebord (1538), OE stéorbord, MDu. stierbord; Ster(e n.2 and Burd(e n.] The right-hand side of a ship, as distinguished from the baburd (Baburd n.) or larboard, the side at which the steering gear was worked, on early ships.(a) 1513 Doug. v iv 6.
Gyas, … Wenyng hym self victour … Callys on hys steris man, … ‘Quhidder goys thou so on steirburd [Ruddim. stereburd]? Fy forschame; Frawart me thou haldis’ 1540 Lynd. Sat. 619 (B).
Sum bad haill, sum bad standby, On steirburde how; alluff; fy, fy a1568 Sempill in Sat. P. xlvi 6.
Se that hir hatchis be handlit richt, With steirburd, baburd, luf and lie: Scho will sale all the wintirnight 1602 Colville Paraenese 17.
Hauing lernit … to knou the arthes, pointes of compas, babord and sterbord [etc.](b) 16.. Admir. Ct. Form 65.
Stireboard is the right hand looking to the heid of the ship and not to the sterne. Baboard contrair. As windboard and leiveard are contrair(c) 1688 Sinclair Weather Glass 31.
The weather-glass … can recline without hurt, as much as the ship can ly, either to starboord, or larboord, and fall right again, when the helm is rightedattrib. 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 40/27.
Hail doune the steir burde lufe harde a burde a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlviii 156.
On steirbuird syd the roks lay off the land
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"Stereburd n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/stereburd>
