[f. STERN sb.3 + BOARD sb.1]
1. A board forming the flat part of the stern of a small vessel, punt, etc.
1849. Cupples, Green Hand, xvi. (1856), 160. The stern-board of some small vessel or other.
1863. Atkinson, Stanton Grange (1864), 104. Working the stern-board in was the worst piece of the whole work to do.
b. transf. The tail-board of a cart.
1887. Hall Caine, Deemster, xxxvi. Carts were tipped up in corners, and their stores … were guarded by a boy…, who sat on the sternboard.
2. Naut. In phrase to make a stern-board, to go backwards as the result of tacking; also, to force a ship astern with the sails.
1815. Falconer’s Dict. Marine (ed. Burney), s.v. Board, To make a stern Board, (faire culer, Fr.), is when, by a current, or any other accident, the vessel has fallen back from the point she has gained on the last tack, instead of having advanced beyond it.
1883. Man. Seamanship (1886), 147. Making a stern board. It is effected by throwing the sails aback.
1897. Ansted, Dict. Sea Terms, 271. Her next course must be in a direction W.S.W. … which is actually going backwards, or in other words, she then makes a stern board.
