board

board
{{11}}board (n.1) O.E. bord "a plank, flat surface," from P.Gmc. *burdam (Cf. O.N. borð "plank," Du. bord "board," Goth. fotu-baurd "foot-stool," Ger. Brett "plank"), from PIE *bhrdh- "board," from root *bherdh- "to cut." See also BOARD (Cf. board) (n.2), with which this is so confused as practically to form one word (if indeed they were not the same word all along). A board is thinner than a PLANK (Cf. plank), and generally less than 2.5 inches thick. The transferred meaning "food" (late 14c.) is an extension of the late O.E. sense of "table" (Cf. BOARDER (Cf. boarder), BOARDING (Cf. boarding)); hence, also, above board "honest, open" (1610s). A further extension is to "table where council is held" (1570s), then transferred to "leadership council, council (that meets at a table)," 1610s.
{{12}}board (n.2) "side of ship," O.E. bord "border, rim, ship's side," from P.Gmc. *bordaz (Cf. O.S. bord, Du. boord, Ger. Bord, O.H.G. bart, O.N. barð), perhaps from PIE *bhrtos "raised, made projecting." Connected to BORDER (Cf. border). See also STARBOARD (Cf. starboard).
Under this theory, etymologically not related to board (n.1), but the two forms represented in English by these words were more or less confused at an early date in most Germanic languages, a situation made worse in English because this Germanic root also was adopted as M.L. bordus (Cf. It. and Sp. bordo). It also entered Old French as bort "beam, board, plank; side of a ship" (12c., Mod.Fr. bord), either from Medieval Latin or Frankish, and from thence it came over with the Normans to mingle with its native cousins. By now the senses are inextricably tangled. Some etymology dictionaries treat them as having been the same word all along.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Board — (b[=o]rd), n. [OE. bord, AS. bord board, shipboard; akin to bred plank, Icel. bor[eth] board, side of a ship, Goth. f[=o]tu baurd footstool, D. bord board, G. brett, bort. See def. 8. [root]92.] 1. A piece of timber sawed thin, and of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • board — n often cap 1 a: a group of individuals having managerial, supervisory, investigatory, or advisory powers over a public or private business, trust, or other organization or institution Board of Regents Board of Bar Overseers …   Law dictionary

  • board — [bôrd] n. [ME & OE bord, a plank, flat surface (nautical senses via OFr bord, side of a ship < Frank * bord, akin to OE bord) < IE * bhr̥dho , board < * bheredh < base * bher , to cut] 1. a long, broad, flat piece of sawed wood ready… …   English World dictionary

  • Board — may refer to: *Board, a piece of lumber, or other rigid material made of wood, milled or sawn flat *Surfboard, skateboard, or snowboard (often made of fibreglass) *Board of directors or a similar governing or advisory committee *Mixing console,… …   Wikipedia

  • Board — Board, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Boarded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Boarding}.] 1. To cover with boards or boarding; as, to board a house. The boarded hovel. Cowper. [1913 Webster] 2. [Cf. {Board} to accost, and see {Board}, n.] To go on board of, or enter,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • board — ► NOUN 1) a long, thin, flat piece of wood used in building. 2) a thin, flat, rectangular piece of stiff material used for various purposes. 3) the decision making body of an organization. 4) the provision of regular meals in return for payment.… …   English terms dictionary

  • Board — (von engl. board – Brett) steht für: Board Cards, die Gemeinschaftskarten in den Pokervarianten Texas Hold em und Omaha Hold em, die alle Spieler nutzen können Board of Directors, das Leitungs und Kontrollgremium eines Unternehmens im anglo… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • board — [n1] piece of wood lath, panel, plank, slat, strip, timber; concept 479 board [n2] meal daily bread*, eats*, fare, food, keep*, mess, provisions, victuals; concept 459 board [n3] group of advisers advisers, advisory group, brass, cabinet, com …   New thesaurus

  • Board — Board, v. t. [F. aborder. See {Abord}, v. t.] To approach; to accost; to address; hence, to woo. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] I will board her, though she chide as loud As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Board — (b[=o]rd), v. i. To obtain meals, or meals and lodgings, statedly for compensation; as, he boards at the hotel. [1913 Webster] We are several of us, gentlemen and ladies, who board in the same house. Spectator. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • board|y — «BR dee, BOHR », adjective, board|i|er, board|i|est. Informal. stiff …   Useful english dictionary

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