pasteboard
UK[ˈpeɪstbɔːd]US[ˈpeɪstbɔːrd]
n
A type of stiff board made by pasting layers of paper together.
n
A thin, stiff cardboard.
n
(dated, informal) A visiting card or business card.
Morpheme Breakdown
paste
board
paste
board
Etymology
The word 'pasteboard' is a straightforward English compound noun from the 16th century, transparently combining 'paste' and 'board'. 'Paste' originates from the Latin 'pasta', meaning 'dough' or 'paste', which entered English via Old French, reflecting the adhesive mixture used in its manufacture. 'Board' comes from the Old English 'bord', meaning a plank or flat surface, which has Germanic roots. The term's logic is entirely literal, describing a board (a rigid sheet) created by the process of pasting layers of paper or other material. Its later figurative use for a visiting card (18th-19th century) derives from the material such cards were commonly made from, highlighting how a concrete material name can evolve to denote an object associated with it.
Analysis
Structure: paste + board
- paste (Latin via Old French): The substance used for sticking layers together. In this compound, it functions as a modifier describing the material or method of construction.
- board (Old English): A flat, rigid piece of material. In this compound, it functions as the head noun, indicating the final product.
Examples
The old book's cover was made of durable pasteboard.
She constructed the model using sheets of colored pasteboard.
He left his pasteboard on the hall table after his visit.