"Disembark" vs. "debark" vs. "disbark"

[calikak]

I always wondered whether disembark, debark, or disbark was the correct term. Then I saw this in a daily usage tip e-mail I get (yes, I am a total nerd :D):

 

"disembark; debark; disbark. 'Disembark,' the preferred term, is ten times as common in American English print sources as the needless variants 'debark' and 'disbark' combined."

 

So, they're all technically correct, but "disembark" is preferred among American word nerds. :) Anyone know which one Princess uses? Since so many of the crew are not American, I would imagine they might use whatever is the most prevalent in British English?

[Alessandrina]

On the Princess website, "disembark" is the word they use.

[johnql]

I've always preferred "disembark". "Debark" sounds like something you would do to a dog. I've never heard or seen "disbark" used.

[CruiseFever]

I've always preferred "disembark". "Debark" sounds like something you would do to a dog. I've never heard or seen "disbark" used.

 

LOL!

[Pam in CA]

De bark! De bark! She is coming!

 

I prefer using "disembarkation" myself.

[dan40]

however youse sez it, it means dey throws ja oft da chip. So itsa baaaaaaaad ting.

 

Dan

[britsbest]

Actually Debark is what is done to trees not dogs, and disbark is not a word!

[Druke I]

Well, I agree with Britbest's post above, re debark & trees.

 

I for one use disembarkation, sounds right to me.

[Druke I]

delete

[Oliver Sudden]

:eek: waddaya no!

 

First time I heard "debark" used by the cruise director (yes, they have them) on the Delta Queen. Previously my only knowledge of the term pertained to the lumber trade, processing "raw" logs, preparing them for their ultimate destiny.

 

I called the perpetrator (a young lady) aside and informed her that this term was incorrect, that debarking was something done in a lumber mill. She looked at me and said: "I'll never use that word again!"

 

:mad: Later I learned that either term is technically correct, and have always regretted "correcting" that young lady. I hope some day she'll forgive me.

 

However, if we don't bark a ship, now can we debark same???? Eh???

 

That's my rule, if one cannot do then how can one dedo?

 

 

Soooooooo, it will be embark and disembark 4 me 4 evah!:p

 

:eek: Would you believe that's the first time in my life I made a mistake? No? How about the 2nd time?

 

PREVIOUS CRUISES:

Jun 1989, RIVER CRUISES, -- Paddlewheeler Julia Belle Swain, GD

Sep 1993, US NAVY TIGER CRUISE, USS Halsey CG23, HI-CA, EXC

Nov 1997, CAPT. COOK CRUISES, Murray Princess, Australia, EXC

Jan.1993, RCL Majesty of the Seas 1st big cruiseship, we were green

May 1998, US NAVY TIGER CRUISE, USS Fife DD 191, HI-WA, EXC

Apr 1998, US NAVY TIGER CRUISE, USS Fife DD 191, HI-WA, EXC

May 1999, DELTA QUEEN STEAMBOAT CO, Delta Queen, EXC

Sep 2000, US NAVY TIGER CRUISE, USS Fife DD 191, HI-WA, EXC

May 2001, HAL Maasdam. E. Caribbean, VD

Feb 2002, HAL Rotterdam, S. Caribbean, exc. ship decor, EXC

May 2002, CARNIVAL Pride, W. Caribbean, garish decor, VG

Sep 2002, CELEBRITY, Mercury, Panama Canal, Rail & Sail FR

Dec 2002, CARNIVAL Spirit, E. Caribbean, nice decor, VERY GD

Apr 2003, HAL Statendam, CA-HI, good all around, VERY GD

Aug 2003, CARNIVAL Paradise, E. Carib., non-smoking ship, EXC

Sep 2003, CARNIVAL Paradise, W. Carib., non-smoking ship, EXC

Dec 2003, HAL Noordam, E. & S. Caribbean, VG

Mar 2004, HAL Volendam, W. Caribbean Wayfarer, VG

May 2004, MSC, Lirica, West Indies, GOOD

Nov 2004, HAL Prinsendam, 28-day Amazon River Explorer, VG

Feb 2005, CARNIVAL Glory, E. Caribbean, POOR

Mar 2005, CARNIVAL Glory, W.Caribbean, POOR

July 2005, CARNIVAL Miracle, W. Caribbean, EXC

COMING UP

Dec 2005 RCL Mariner of the Seas, E. Caribbean

Apr 2006 HAL Ryndam, S. Caribbean INCLUDING ARUBA!

Sep 2006 CARNIVAL Sensation, Bahamas (a short one)

[Oliver Sudden]

waddaya no!

 

First time I heard "debark" used by the cruise director (yes, they have them) on the Delta Queen. Previously my only knowledge of the term pertained to the lumber trade, processing "raw" logs, preparing them for their ultimate destiny.

 

:o I called the perpetrator (a young lady) aside and informed her that this term was incorrect, that debarking was something done in a lumber mill. She looked at me and said: "I'll never use that word again!"

 

:mad: Later I learned that either term is technically correct, and have always regretted "correcting" that young lady. I hope some day she'll forgive me.

 

:) However, if we don't bark a ship, now can we debark same???? Eh???

 

That's my rule, if one cannot do then how can one dedo?

 

Soooooooo, it will be embark and disembark 4 me 4 evah!:p

 

:eek: Would you believe that's the first time in my life I made a mistake? No? How about the 2nd time?

 

PREVIOUS CRUISES:

Jun 1989, RIVER CRUISES, -- Paddlewheeler Julia Belle Swain, GD

Sep 1993, US NAVY TIGER CRUISE, USS Halsey CG23, HI-CA, EXC

Nov 1997, CAPT. COOK CRUISES, Murray Princess, Australia, EXC

Jan.1993, RCL Majesty of the Seas 1st big cruiseship, we were green

May 1998, US NAVY TIGER CRUISE, USS Fife DD 191, HI-WA, EXC

Apr 1998, US NAVY TIGER CRUISE, USS Fife DD 191, HI-WA, EXC

May 1999, DELTA QUEEN STEAMBOAT CO, Delta Queen, EXC

Sep 2000, US NAVY TIGER CRUISE, USS Fife DD 191, HI-WA, EXC

May 2001, HAL Maasdam. E. Caribbean, VD

Feb 2002, HAL Rotterdam, S. Caribbean, exc. ship decor, EXC

May 2002, CARNIVAL Pride, W. Caribbean, garish decor, VG

Sep 2002, CELEBRITY, Mercury, Panama Canal, Rail & Sail FR

Dec 2002, CARNIVAL Spirit, E. Caribbean, nice decor, VERY GD

Apr 2003, HAL Statendam, CA-HI, good all around, VERY GD

Aug 2003, CARNIVAL Paradise, E. Carib., non-smoking ship, EXC

Sep 2003, CARNIVAL Paradise, W. Carib., non-smoking ship, EXC

Dec 2003, HAL Noordam, E. & S. Caribbean, VG

Mar 2004, HAL Volendam, W. Caribbean Wayfarer, VG

May 2004, MSC, Lirica, West Indies, GOOD

Nov 2004, HAL Prinsendam, 28-day Amazon River Explorer, VG

Feb 2005, CARNIVAL Glory, E. Caribbean, POOR

Mar 2005, CARNIVAL Glory, W.Caribbean, POOR

July 2005, CARNIVAL Miracle, W. Caribbean, EXC

COMING UP

Dec 2005 RCL Mariner of the Seas, E. Caribbean

Apr 2006 HAL Ryndam, S. Caribbean INCLUDING ARUBA!

Sep 2006 CARNIVAL Sensation, Bahamas (a short one)

[Oliver Sudden]

Sorry for the Multiple posting posting

[Aussie Gal]

I agree wholeheartedly with britsbest.

 

When I was at school we were taught the words embarkation and disembarkation. I had never hear the word debark until I started using this Board a few years ago and then I had no idea what people were talking about.

 

As far as I am concerned there is only one correct word for leaving a ship.

 

Jennie

[phaelon56]

Let's see...

 

I think "debark" is what you do to a yappy dog by having its vocal chords removed (under anaesthesia of course!).

 

"Disbark" is the stuff the covers the trunk of the tree closest to me and "Datbark" is on the tree over yonder.

 

And I disembark to get off a ship. But why is it that when I get off a plane I am deboarding and not disembarking?

[btrojanoski]

Here are more reasons why the English language is so hard to learn:

 

 

 

> 1) The bandage was wound around the wound.

> 2) The farm was used to produce produce.

> 3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

> 4) We must polish the Polish furniture.

> 5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.

> 6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

> 7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time

to present the present.

> 8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

> 9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

> 10) I did not object to the object.

> 11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

> 12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

> 13) They were too close to the door to close it.

> 14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.

> 15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

> 16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

> 17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail

> 18) After a number of injections my jaw got number.

> 19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.

> 20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

> 21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

 

Barry

[p010ne]

Let's see...

I think "debark" is what you do to a yappy dog by having its vocal chords removed (under anaesthesia of course!).

:eek: Our pharaoh hound breeder had one of her hounds debarked (I just thought the poor thing was hoarse!):eek:

Check out:

Like all breeds that hunt in packs, the Pharaoh Hound can be quite vocal. Not all Pharaohs are problem barkers, but it is not uncommon. Many owners either surgically debark them or train them to a anti-bark collar. I believe the problem occurs most often when a dog is left alone for extended periods of time without enough things to keep them entertained.

[calikak]

After doing a bit more research, it appears that some dictionaries include the word "debark" and some don't. Oxford University Press's free online dictionary (http://www.askoxford.com/?view=uk) and the American Heritage Dictionary, which is available through dictionary.com, both include the word debark. Cambridge Dictionaries Online (http://dictionary.cambridge.org/), however, does not recognize the word "debark." Could this be a difference between American and British English? At any rate, I think everyone agrees that if debark is indeed a word, it isn't a particularly good one. :D

 

In case folks are wondering, the usage list that I subscribe to is put together by Brian Garner (editor of Black's Law Dictionary and author of several books on writing/usage). It's run by Oxford University Press, and you can subscribe through their website (http://www.oup.com).

[Globaliser]

At any rate, I think everyone agrees that if debark is indeed a word, it isn't a particularly good one. :D

I think this is exactly the way I'd put it. "Debark" was probably originally someone's lazy/trendy/snazzy way of constructing a shorter antonym for "embark", in substitution for the traditional word "disembark". As language is dynamic, it's obviously an English word now, as we see it frequently and all know what it means. It's just so ugly.

[Pandaman]

Since I relax on a cruise, does it mean I unlax when I debark. Or perhaps since my relaxing was in the past, am I now exlaxed? The way I see it we have enough corruption of the language - If I embark, why can't I debark, just like I deplane. Someone goes to Detox, not Disintox.

[GloriaF]

Disembarkation - a noun

Disembark - a verb

 

Although most statements can be changed around to use the noun rather than the verb to suit the speaker.

 

I always wondered which, until I saw Princess use disembark and decided to go along with them.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

[Steamboatin]

When exiting a ship you do so via the gangplank.

 

Thus, to be perfectly correct one degangplanks a ship.:D

[spongerob]

I'm still trying to get the whole "i" before "e" thing straight. :confused:

[ourlol]

I'm still trying to get the whole "i" before "e" thing straight. :confused:

 

I'm with you on that one!!

 

If an S and an I and an O and a U with an X at the end spell Su;

And an E and a Y and an E spell I,

Pray what is a speller to do?

Then, if also an S and an I and a G and an HED spell side,

There's nothing much left for a speller to do

But to go commit siouxeyesighed.

 

Pandaman... I had to smile when I saw exlax!

[CruiseFever]

I'm still trying to get the whole "i" before "e" thing straight. :confused:

 

Their or Thier? I hate that cruel joke

[ourlol]

Budweiser!! No 'c' in sight (or should that be site).