The word "longside" is spelled with the letter "g" instead of the phonetically expected letter "n" due to historical changes in the English language. The IPA phonetic transcription for "longside" is /ˈlɒŋ.saɪd/, with the final sound being a voiced dental fricative /ð/ followed by a voiceless alveolar stop /t/. The word means "beside or alongside in length" and is commonly used in nautical language to refer to a ship docked alongside a pier or another vessel.
"Longside" is a relatively uncommon term that is commonly used in nautical and maritime contexts. It is a noun that refers to the side of a ship that is parallel to the length of the vessel. In other words, it describes the aspect of a boat or ship that runs from the bow (front) to the stern (rear). The term "longside" is primarily used when two or more ships are moored alongside each other, with their longsides adjacent or parallel.
When ships are berthed or moored side by side, as in a docking or harbor situation, they may be described as 'lying longside.' This is a phrase used to indicate the positioning of multiple vessels next to each other along their lengths. For instance, a ship might be said to be 'lying longside' another vessel when they are docked in a double or multiple berth.
The term "longside" can also be used as an adverb to describe the method of mooring or docking parallel to a structure or coastline. For example, a ship may be directed to 'lie longside the dock' or 'lie longside the quay.' The use of the term "longside" helps to indicate that the ship's long side is parallel to the structure it is moored against.
Overall, "longside" is a specific nautical term used to describe the parallel positioning of ships along their lengths, particularly when they are docked or moored next to each other.