plasterboard
UK[ˈplɑːstəbɔːd]US[ˈplæstərbɔːrd]
n
a rigid board made of plaster and paper, used to form or line the inside walls and ceilings of buildings.
Morpheme Breakdown
plaster
board
plaster
binding material
board
flat sheet
Etymology
the word 'plasterboard' is a modern compound, transparently combining two old english elements. 'plaster' traces back to the latin 'emplastrum', a medical term for a curative spread or bandage, which evolved to denote the building material used for coating walls. 'board' originates from the proto-germanic 'burdą', meaning a flat, cut plank. the compound term logically describes the product's composition: a flat, board-like sheet whose core is made of hardened plaster, designed for dry construction of interior surfaces.
Analysis
Structure: plaster (binding material) + board (flat sheet)
plaster: from latin 'emplastrum' (a plaster, bandage) via old english and old french, meaning a soft, moldable substance that hardens.
board: from old english 'bord' (a plank, flat surface), referring to a thin, rigid sheet of material.
Examples
the builders used plasterboard to quickly erect the new partition walls.
you'll need to cut the plasterboard to fit around the window frame.
a common issue in older homes is crumbling plasterboard behind the wallpaper.