board English · revision 2527

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725 (Old English bord)|origins=gem-pro *burdą}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /bɔːd/, US /bɔːrd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|bord]], [[inh|ang|bord|t=plank; table; shield; ship's side]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) which combines two originally distinct Germanic words,^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) [[gem-pro|*burdą|t=board, plank]] and a word for “border, rim, ship's side”.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) Etymonline notes that the two were confused so early in most Germanic languages that they practically form one word, if they were not one all along.^(Etymonline) Cognates include [[non|borð|t=plank, table, ship's side]], [[nl|bord]] and [[m|de|Bord|t=edge, ship's side]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) and Gothic has fōtubaúrd, “footstool”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) In Middle English the word was reinforced by Old French [[m|fro|bort|t=edge, ship's side]] and Old Norse ''borð'', “table”.^(SOED 2002)^(COED 2004)^(Barnhart 1988) Barnhart and Klein trace it to [[ine-pro|*bherdh-|t=to cut]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) It is related to [[border]] and [[starboard]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In Old English ''bord'' meant a table, a shield and the side of a ship from about 725,^(Barnhart 1988) and a board or plank from about 1000, in Ælfric's version of Genesis.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “table” led to “food served at a table” in the early 14th century, especially daily meals provided for pay.^(Etymonline) A table for council meetings gave the sense “body of persons managing a business or institution”, recorded from 1576.^(HTOED)^(Cresswell 2021) A board for games such as chess is from 1474,^(OED 1989)^(HTOED) and a noticeboard from about 1340.^(OED 1989) The stiff covers of a book are ''boards'' from 1533,^(HTOED) and the theatre stage from 1768.^(OED 1989) ''Above board'', from the late 16th century, refers to card players keeping their hands above the table so as not to cheat.^(Cresswell 2021) The verb meant “to come alongside a ship”, usually to attack it, from the mid-15th century,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and “to go on board” from 1597;^(OED 1989) it was extended to trains, coaches and later aircraft in the mid-19th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) “To be supplied with meals and lodging” is from the 1550s,^(Etymonline) or 1556 in the Historical Thesaurus.^(HTOED) ''Across the board'' comes from horse racing.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''bord'', table, shield, ship's side.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1000 – a plank.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * early 14th century – meals, food.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1340 – a noticeboard.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-15th century – verb, to come alongside a ship.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1474 – a board for games.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1533 – the covers of a book.^(HTOED)

+ * 1556 – verb, to take meals and lodging.^(HTOED)

+ * 1576 – a governing body.^(HTOED)

+ * 1597 – verb, to go on board.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1768 – the stage.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1848 – verb, to board a train or vehicle.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A long, flat piece of sawn timber; a [[plank]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A flat piece of wood or other rigid material made for a special purpose, as for a game or notices.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # The hard cover of a book.^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+ # ''(the boards)'' The theatre [[stage]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Daily meals, especially those provided for pay: ''room and board''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A group of people who manage or direct an organization: ''board of directors''.^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+ # The side of a ship, as in ''on board'', in or on a ship or vehicle.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To cover or close with boards.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To provide with, or receive, meals and lodging for pay.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To go on board a ship, train, aircraft or other vehicle.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To come alongside a ship, usually to attack it.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[boardlike]]

+ * [[boardable]]

+ * [[boarding house]]

+ * [[boarding pass]]

+ * [[boarding school]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[border]]

+ * [[starboard]]

+ * [[larboard]]

+ * [[aboard]]

+ * [[boardroom]]

+ * [[overboard]]

+ * [[cupboard]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In the coal-mining districts of Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire a ''board'' was a working passage in a coal pit.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}