noun · rare

backboard

back·board

backboard · backboards

The flat vertical surface to which the basket is attachedThe flat vertical surface to which the basket is attached.

US/bˈækbˌɔɹd/

» The washstand had a small mirror attached to its backboard.

Meaning

5 senses

The flat vertical surface to which the basket is attached.
a raised vertical board with basket attached; used to play basketball
A flat vertical wall with the image of a tennis net drawn or painted on it, designed to practice hitting against such that the ball rebounds.
A spine board.
a board used to support the back of someone or something
A board placed at the back of a cart, boat, behind a signal, etc.
(uncountable, usually)The port or larboard side of a ship

Examples

2 sentences

The washstand had a small mirror attached to its backboard.
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The basketball player dunked the ball so hard that the backboard shattered.
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Origin

From back + board. Likely a borrowing from Dutch bakboord (“portside”) or from Middle Low

From back + board.

Likely a borrowing from Dutch bakboord (“portside”) or from Middle Low German backbort, bakbōrt (“portside”). Old English bæcbord (“larboard, portside”) did not survive (in that form) into Middle English; Scottish texts of the 1500s have forms like bawbord, baburd and babord, possibly borrowed from French bâbord; later texts with Scots backburd, backber may have borrowed it from Old Norse bakborði (“portside”). Cognate with West Frisian bakboard (“portside”), German Backbord (“portside”), Danish bagbord (“portside”).

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