This post will be less confusing to English speakers if you replace “backboard” (presumably backformed from the German ‘Backbord’) with ‘port’. :)
Which does raise the etymological question of why English has the Germanic starboard meaning “right, but on a ship” (German Steuerbord, Norwegian styrbord) but not the corresponding “left”—German Backbord, Norwegian babord. What’s this “port” stuff?
This post will be less confusing to English speakers if you replace “backboard” (presumably backformed from the German ‘Backbord’) with ‘port’. :)
Which does raise the etymological question of why English has the Germanic starboard meaning “right, but on a ship” (German Steuerbord, Norwegian styrbord) but not the corresponding “left”—German Backbord, Norwegian babord. What’s this “port” stuff?
I did.
The english language is messed up as usual.