handboard noun 10verb 2forms 3 noun10 •A 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. — 1967 •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. — 1914 •An artist's palette. •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 . — 1897 •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. — 1868 •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. — 1883 •A long narrow board with a catch for holding a dart, spear, or harpoon used as a throwing device.The weapon is in very general use at Point Barrow , and is always thrown from the boat with a handboard ( to be described below ) . — 1892 •A hand tool used to apply pressure to skins in order to finish them.Sides or skins finished by folding with grain side in and rubbing the surface together under pressure of an instrument known as a handboard . — 1933 •(no longer used) A washboard.If it does, add water in small quantities at a time, until the ley, when put upon the handboard, does not run down from the soap, but appears as it were just starting from the soap. — 1830 •(no longer used) A salver or tray for carrying items such as dishes.Lady Caroline again called, "Davison," and Mrs. Davison replying she was coming, took up the handboard, and once more left Mary in darkness. — 1797 verb2 •To 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. — 1902 formshandboarded · handboarding · handboards
