Why are ships windows (portholes) round?
1) “Portholes are round holes with doors in the side of a ship, big enough for cannons to be run out and fired. They were invented in England by a French shipbuilder named James Baker, during the realm of Henry VI (in the late fifteenth century). If you just had holes in the side of the ship, too much water would get in during heavy weather; it could fill up the ship with water, and also rust the iron cannons. The word “port” is from French “porte” meaning door. Portholes later came to mean any windows — round by custom — in the side of a ship. I have to mention here the great scene in the movie Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend, where Marilyn Monroe walks into her cabin on the cruise ship, pauses, elegantly points, and coos, “Oh look!!! Round windows!” It is so perfect, because nearly anyone who wasn’t a hick and kind of a moron would know that ships have round windows and that they are called portholes — not really something to remark on! It is a good phrase to say when you want t
Must be for three reasons. 1. To let the spray, moisture and and rainwater to trickle down to the bottom of the porthole effortlessly where there must me an outlet for the water collected. 2. While sailing in heavy cross winds to reduce the air resistance by diverting the air away by the rounded shape of the porthole which must have rounded rubber framing. For the same reason only the ships must be getting built with a streamlined design unlike barges. 3. Round portholes are aesthetically better looking on a ship. We just can’t imagine a ship with rectagular portholes with sharp corners. Is there a 4th reason?
