Obs. [UNDER-2.]
1. a. Under the table. Also fig.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 99 b. When the greate fire of this discencion … was thus … vtterly quenched out, and laied vnder boord.
1620. Gataker, Marriage Duties, 46. Like those that climbe and take paines to get nuts, which hauing crackt and eaten the kernell out of, they cast the shels vnder-bord.
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 309. [They will] be idle otherwise, as they were at their worke never well, till they have drunk themselves underboord.
b. Under deck.
1588. Parke, trans. Mendoza’s Hist. China, 118. They do make their dwellinges in ships,… where they haue their … families under borde to defende them from the sunne and rayne.
2. In an underhand or secret manner; clandestinely; not openly or honestly. (Opposed to above-board.)
1581. Gosson, Plaies Confuted, F 5. [Thus] to shake off the yoake of seuerer discipline … is to iuggle vnder boarde.
1590. Nashe, Pasquil’s Apol., I. B iij b. My Reformer doth nothing but play the Iugler, he packs vnder-boord, and shewes not how farre forth the Archb. hath affirmed it.
a. 1603. T. Cartwright, Confut. Rhem. N. T. (1618), 641. The better to discouer your ligier-demain and your playing vnderboard.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., 445. Then shall that Wicked one be revealed (who has dealt under-board hitherto with his Conspirators).
1703. Secr. Policy of Jansenists, 6. It play’d now no more underboard.
