mortarboard
UK[ˈmɔːtəbɔːd]US[ˈmɔːrtərbɔːrd]
n
a black cap with a flat, square top and a tassel, worn as part of formal academic dress.
n
a small square board with a handle on the underside, used by bricklayers to hold mortar.
Morpheme Breakdown
mortar
board
mortar
board
Etymology
the word "mortarboard" is a compound noun formed from two english words, "mortar" and "board." its primary modern meaning refers to the academic cap, whose flat, square shape was humorously likened in the 19th century to the square board used by masons to hold mortar. the "mortar" element traces back to latin mortarium, denoting both a vessel for pounding and the bonding substance itself, while "board" originates from proto-germanic, referring to a flat slab. thus, the term's logic is a vivid metaphorical comparison, where the tool of a physical trade lends its name, via its shape, to the symbolic headgear of the scholarly profession.
Analysis
Structure: mortar + board
"mortar" (from latin mortarium, meaning a mixture for bonding, or a bowl for grinding) + "board" (from old english bord, meaning a flat, rigid piece of material).
Examples
the graduates adjusted their mortarboards before the procession began.
the tradition of throwing your mortarboard into the air at graduation is a popular photo opportunity.
before the ceremony, she carefully pinned her mortarboard to her hair.