On the subject of the word babord, as referred to above in the discussion of "port" and "starboard," I was told during the 80's by a young Frenchman who was off to report as a newly-commissioned naval officer, that they use "babord" and "tribord." Sorry, don't remember which was which. He said that the watches - babord and tribord - sometimes have shouting contests, where each watch tries to outshout the other, saying "c'est babord qui gueule le plus fort" and "c'est tribord qui gueule le plus fort." (It's port/starbord that yells the loudest.) Hope this helps. I thought it was interesting, anyway.