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Glite Dictionary
tailboard

tailboard

8.1
A board at the back of a truck or van that lowers to help load boxes
  • noun
  • /ˈteɪlˌbɔrd/
  • UK
translation icon : puerta trasera
  • Inman rode a ways sitting on the tailboard, his back against a bright barrel, fragrant of fresh-split white oak.

Examples

  • The workers lowered the tailboard to make it easier to load the heavy boxes onto the truck.

  • She stood on the tailboard of the van while waiting for her friends to arrive.

  • The delivery driver opened the tailboard so that he could unload the furniture safely.

Synonyms

tailgate
vstailboard
10 4.0

A gate at the back of a truck that lowers for loading and unloading

includes removable boards as well not only hinged gates

How Easy

liftgate
  • Specialized
6.5
tailboard
  • UK
8.1
ramp
163 1.6

Surface Forms

tailboard singular
tailboards plural

Morphology

tailboard = tail + board (transparent) = tail + board

The meaning is a literal compound 'tail' + 'board' referring to a board at the rear of a vehicle, which learners can derive from its parts.

Etymology

Tailboard comes from the two simple words tail ('back' or 'end') and board ('plank'), so think of it as the 'back plank' of a wagon or truck that folds down to make loading and unloading easier.