footboardn.
/ˈfʊtbɔːd/, U.S. /ˈfʊtˌbɔrd/ 1. A board or platform on which a person can stand or rest the feet; esp. one on a carriage or other vehicle that serves as a step, or (formerly) as a platform for a footman. Later also (chiefly North American): the footplate of a locomotive (see footplate n. 1b).
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the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports > foothold or support for the foot > specific
footboard1598
foot stay1658
footing1725
foot raila1749
footrest1833
step1860
1598 in C. Innes Black Bk. Taymouth (1855) 329 Off wemenis sadillis thair with ane fute brod.
1642 in S. Ree Rec. Elgin (1908) II. 242 James Chalmer..gaue in a petition for a foot broad befor the skiners dask for their wiues to sit on.
1688 tr. J. M. Wright Acct. Earl of Castlemaine's Embassy 34 The Foot-board, represented a triple Scollop-shell..; under which, a little winged Genius stretcht out its self, and looking back in the Coach-man's face, seem'd to point with his arm, which way he was to drive.
1744 Penny London Morning Advertiser 11 July The Horse kick'd the Foot-board all to Pieces.
1766 T. Smollett Trav. France & Italy II. xxvii. 54 The ladies sit within, and the cicisbei stand on the foot-boards, on each side of the coach.
1832 A. Gordon Treat. Elemental Locomotion iii. 65 On the foot-board is placed a lever L, which, when pulled up by the conductor, reverses the motion of the engines.
1840 F. Whishaw Railways Great Brit. & Ireland 67 The second-class open carriages..are furnished with two footboards all along on each side.
1904 Daily Illustr. Mirror 1 Feb. 4/1 George Brown..travelled on the footboard of a North-Western express.
1972 Times of India 8 July 5 Travelling on the footboard of a bus can be dangerous even for a police constable.
2015 Press & Jrnl. (Aberdeen) (Nexis) 25 Feb. 20 The stylish new scooter also boasts cutaway footboards, making it easy to stop around town.
2. An upright board or panel extending across the foot of a bed; cf. headboard n. Also Medicine: a panel or box fitted at the foot of a bed and against which a patient's feet are supported at right angles to his or her legs in order to prevent foot drop.
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society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > bed > parts of bed > [noun] > bedstead > board
footboard1650
headboard1701
foot piece1812
headpiece1846
1650 T. Bayly Herba Parietis xiii. 77 Prickette..thrust out his Legs halfe way over the edge of the foot boord.
1744 Scots Mag. Nov. 516/1 I imagine it may be worth your trial to get made a sloping or steep bed-stead, from the head towards the foot, with a foot-board at the lower end.
?1790 J. M. Adair Unanswerable Arguments against Abolition Slave Trade xv. 248 The bedsteads ought to be like the sloping bedsteads of a guard-house, with a narrow foot-board to support the sick, should they slip downwards.
1843 J. W. Carlyle Let. 13 Aug. (1883) I. 232 Groping, with my hand, I felt the footboard at my head!
1870 Wrexham & Denbighshire Advertiser 26 Feb. 1/1 Bedrooms contain handsome mahogany and birch bedsteads with foot boards.
1947 Amer. Jrnl. Nursing 47 323/2 It was a great problem to keep these small children in good alignment, with their feet properly supported on the foot-board.
1980 J. Kassay Bk. Shaker Furnit. 4 This early nineteenth-century New Lebanon bedstead has chestnut posts, pine head- and footboards, and pine, stepped side rails.
2005 Loot 13 Dec. (Liverpool ed.) 13/4 (advt.) Wooden bed, quite old with footboard and headboard.
3. A board or pedal against which the foot is pressed in order to work a machine or mechanical device. Cf. treadle n. 2a.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > lever > [noun] > operated by foot
treadle14..
treddle1671
footstep1678
footboard1721
treader1747
pedal1789
treadle mat1937
1721 R. Bradley tr. G. A. Agricola Philos. Treat. Husbandry iii. iii. 183 The Foot-board... When the Foot is set upon it, the Engine shuts it self at the top; but when the Foot is off, it opens.
1766 Compl. Farmer at Flax The [scutching] machine is put in motion by the nunch at M, which is moved by the foot-board.
1837 Mechanics' Mag. 18 Feb. 286/2 By placing one foot upon the foot-board, and pressing it down, the end of the back lever.., also descends, and causes the chisel to perform its office.
1876 Commissioners of Patents' Jrnl. 28 July 1854/1 The adjustable toe-stop is to place the position of the foot on the foot-board of the treadle.
1900 N. Lorimer Mirry-Ann xii. 229 They could hear Nance at her spinning wheel... The busy whirr, whirr, and the tap, tap, of the footboard on the floor broke the oppressive silence.
1939 Pop. Sci. Monthly Oct. 176 The treadle is hinged to the footboard at one end with a piece of glued cloth.
2011 Metro 21 Jan. (London ed.) 32/2 The veteran musician offers the finest blues you're likely to hear..with a modest selection of appendages: guitar, harmonica and footboard.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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