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CLAPBOARD

 - 4 dictionary results

clap⋅board

1[klab-erd, klap-bawrd, ‑bohrd]
–noun
1. Chiefly Northeastern U.S. a long, thin board, thicker along one edge than the other, used in covering the outer walls of buildings, being laid horizontally, the thick edge of each board overlapping the thin edge of the board below it.
2. British. a size of oak board used for making barrel staves and for wainscoting.
–adjective
3. of or made of clapboard: a clapboard house.

Origin:
1510–20; earlier clap bord, alter. of obs. clapholt < LG klappholt (c. D klaphout) split wood used for barrel staves; see clap 1 , holt

clap⋅board

2[klap-bawrd, -bohrd]
–noun Movies.
a small board with a hinged stick attached that is clapped down at the beginning of the filming of a shot for use later in synchronizing sound and image in the editing of the film.
Also called clapper board, clap⋅stick [klap-stik] .


Origin:
clap 1 + board
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To CLAPBOARD
clap·board   (klāb'ərd, klāp'bôrd', -bōrd')   
n.  A long narrow board with one edge thicker than the other, overlapped horizontally to cover the outer walls of frame structures. Also called weatherboard.
tr.v.   clap·board·ed, clap·board·ing, clap·boards
To cover with clapboards.

[Partial translation of Dutch klaphout : klappen, to split, crack + Middle Dutch holt, board.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

clapboard 
c.1520, partial transl. of M.Du. klapholt (borrowed into Eng. 14c.), from klappen "to fit" + L.Ger. holt "wood, board."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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