proper right

English

A statue with the proper right hand holding a sword up and the proper left hand forwards.

Etymology

proper (in the sense of "its own") + right; from Latin proprius.

Noun

proper right (uncountable)

1. The direction which is to the right from an object's perspective, the direction 90 degrees clockwise from the front.
   • 1834, S. B. Luce, Aaron Ward, “Knotting, Splicing, Etc.”, in Text-book of Seamanship‎^[1], revised and enlarged edition, New York: Van Nostrand Company, published 1891, archived from the original on 19 January 2021, page 59:

     Sennit for Hats […] always join on the upper side, because the under side is the proper right side of the sennit.

   • 1981, Martin Robertson, “The great change : late archaic and early classical”, in A Shorter History of Greek Art‎^[2], Cambridge University Press, published 1982, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 53:

     There is a slight twist of the torso to the proper right, and the head is turned a little further.

   • 2006 April, Jean M Burks, “Quebec country furniture at the Shelburne Museum”, in Magazine Antiques, volume 169, number 4, page 124:

     The key in the lock served to open the proper left-hand door, while the proper right door was secured by a hook and eye of forged iron […]

Synonyms

• starboard

Antonyms

• proper left, port, larboard, backboard