garboard

9.9

A plank at the bottom of a wooden ship next to the keel

noun
/ˈɡɑːrbɔrd/

Specialized

: garboard

The garboards were tricky and tedious to install, and since they are the largest planks with the most bend/twist, I naturally assumed/hoped/believed the rest of the planks would be easy (by comparison) to install.

Examples

The garboard seams had started leaking.

Fiction book (2001)
The garboards went in a new fog, against a smother of sand.

Fiction book (2001)
The garboard plank was wrenching away from the keel, and the sea was overwhelming the pumps.

Fiction book (2000)
The garboard plank was wrenching away from the keel, and the sea was overwhelming the pumps.
Next, prepare to apply fiberglass cloth to the exterior of the garboard strakes by masking off the adjacent planks with tape.
The garboard seams had started leaking.

Synonyms

garboard plank

vsgarboard

Specialized

9.9

A piece of wood placed next to the keel on each side of a wooden ship's hull

is broader and includes either a plank or a wale forming the lowest hull

garboard strake

vsgarboard

Specialized

9.9

A row of planks next to the keel on the bottom of a wooden boat

is the single or general lowest plank rather than a continuous strip

Compounds

garboard strake

Specialized

9.9

A row of planks next to the keel on the bottom of a wooden boat

garboard plank

Specialized

9.9

A piece of wood placed next to the keel on each side of a wooden ship's hull

Surface Forms

garboard singular

garboards plural

Morphology

garboard = gar + board (opaque) = gar + board

Although formally composed of 'gar' + 'board', the element 'gar' is not a productive or meaningful morpheme for most learners, so the specific nautical sense cannot be deduced from the parts.

Etymology

Garboard joins board ('plank') with an old part gar- that meant 'near' the keel, so the garboard is the first, lowest plank laid right next to the keel.