Proper balance of ocean going vessels is a big deal in the nautical world. Could the original “lapsided” describe a ship so poorly balanced it’s especially vulnerable to wave action?
Of course, it all hinges on my guess that a lapping wave could mean or have meant engulfment of a vessel by a wave.
Pre 20thC – The head of a tennis racket used to be curved, and this was called the ‘lop’ side
Greg bedford:
December 31st, 2020 at 9:28 pm
What about the carpentry term “shiplap,” that refers to one board laying over the other?
Stephen K. Donovan:
September 9th, 2021 at 8:38 am
I can remember reading of numerous older wooden ships which, as they first slipped down the ways into water, floated lopsided and had to be counterbalanced with stones, other heavy objects or just stabilized level by careful loading of cargo. It was fairly common I believe. I’d never run into the word “lapsided” before. It must be pretty unusual since “Word” identifies it as misspelled with a red underline and suggests “lopsided” or “lap sided”.
To untangle the origin of”lopsided”, one should start with the original word “lapsided” used as a nautical term. The lap side of a a ship would be the low side of a severely tilted ship on to which waves were lapping on to the deck.
Researching “lop” and not “lap” puts one on the low side of the search.
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Paul:
January 5th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Proper balance of ocean going vessels is a big deal in the nautical world. Could the original “lapsided” describe a ship so poorly balanced it’s especially vulnerable to wave action?
Of course, it all hinges on my guess that a lapping wave could mean or have meant engulfment of a vessel by a wave.
Tree Loppers Brisbane:
July 26th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
So lop applied to trees means they are lop sided?
CC:
September 12th, 2016 at 2:57 pm
Pre 20thC – The head of a tennis racket used to be curved, and this was called the ‘lop’ side
Greg bedford:
December 31st, 2020 at 9:28 pm
What about the carpentry term “shiplap,” that refers to one board laying over the other?
Stephen K. Donovan:
September 9th, 2021 at 8:38 am
I can remember reading of numerous older wooden ships which, as they first slipped down the ways into water, floated lopsided and had to be counterbalanced with stones, other heavy objects or just stabilized level by careful loading of cargo. It was fairly common I believe. I’d never run into the word “lapsided” before. It must be pretty unusual since “Word” identifies it as misspelled with a red underline and suggests “lopsided” or “lap sided”.
David Brandt:
October 18th, 2021 at 9:11 pm
To untangle the origin of”lopsided”, one should start with the original word “lapsided” used as a nautical term. The lap side of a a ship would be the low side of a severely tilted ship on to which waves were lapping on to the deck.
Researching “lop” and not “lap” puts one on the low side of the search.