† 1. A board for backgammon or any similar game: TABLE sb. 4 a, BOARD sb. 2 c. Obs.
1483. Cath. Angl., 376/1. A Tabylle burde, tabella.
1540. Hyrde, trans. Vives’ Instr. Chr. Wom., F ij. What a foule thing is it, to see a woman in steade of her woolbasket, to handle the tablebourd.
1623. Webster, Devil’s Law-Case, II. i. Shaking your elbow at the table-board.
1905. [see TABLE-MAN 1].
2. A board forming the top of a table; also a table (obs. or dial.).
a. 1603. in H. Hall, Soc. Eliz. Age, vii. (1886), 99. Table-bordes, formes, and a countinge table.
1668. Clarendon, Vind. Tracts (1727), 33. Walnut-tree … of which I made some table-boards and frames for chairs.
1731. W. Halfpenny, Perspective, p. iv. The Table-Board fixed on the three Legs.
1847–78. Halliwell, Table-board, a table. Cornw.
3. Board, i.e., meals, without lodging. U.S.
1868. Ohio Educ. Monthly, IX. June, Advt. Expenses…. Table Board, per week,… $2.00 to $2.50.
1884. N. York Herald, 27 Oct., 2/3. First class table Board.
1895–6. Cal. Univ. Nebraska, 177. Table board ranges from $1.50 to $2.50 per week.
