handboardEtymologyFrom hand + board.nounA board that is held in the hand or attached by a strap, used like a paddle when bodysurfing.“The usual handboard is made of thin light wood such as plywood, about a foot long and nine inches wide, with a curved front, straight sides, and a sawn-off rear end.”A tablet-sized surface for writing or displaying text and images.“Having occasion for a writing handboard, such as could be bought in London for 2s. 6d. or less, I was charged 7s. 6d. for one in Montreal.”A small hand-painted wooden sign, especially one indicating the direction (and possibly distance) to a particular location.“A schoolmaster's etymology is a stupid affair, a handboard at the entrance of a cul-de-sac, or blind alley.”A device for securing, supporting, or guiding the hand; a handrest or splint.“The scaffold was reached by a ladder projecting about a foot above the top of the scaffold , and then a handboard , fastened on one side , extended between one and two feet higher than the ladder .”A long narrow board with a catch for holding a dart, spear, or harpoon used as a throwing device.“If the oar is lost past recovery, they attempt to jerk themselves upwards by striking the water with the handboard of the harpoon, or a knife, or even the palm of the hand; but this experiment rarely succeeds.”A flat surface with a handle on one side, used by a mason or plasterer; a hawk or mortarboard.“Get the handboard and the trowel , each of us got that, Bancroft had one, too, and he lifted the stuff off from the board and give it up to us.”verbTo bodysurf using a handboard.To finish leather using a handboard.“This is obtained by a method of handboarding instead of the usual process of embossing.”