Term used to refer to the left side of the vessel, in the stern-to-bow direction. The origin of the word is uncertain, but the most widely accepted theory comes from the English, who used it to refer to the side where land was (Port) when sailing down the Atlantic Ocean towards the south. In Portugal, it was adapted as Bom Bordo, because it was the side of the boat facing land and the safe, charted ports when navigating along the African coast. The opposite of port is starboard.