Alright how many of you think you know where this came from? Well, I seriously had no idea, so that is why I tracked it down.

As ships passed to steam and orders could be given by remote methods such as the engine order telegraph, a small control deck with an enclosed pilot house was constructed above the main deck of the ship in front of the funnel, usually reaching from side to side and thus 'bridging' the main deck. It became the term used to describe the place where the Captain steered the ship from and gave his orders.