boarding

UK: ˈbɔːdɪŋ | US: ˈbɔːrdɪŋ

Definition

  1. n. the act of getting on or entering a vehicle (e.g., a plane, ship, or train)

  2. n. the provision of meals and lodging for payment (e.g., in a boarding house)

  3. n. long, flat pieces of wood used to construct walls or floors (archaic/literal sense)

Structure
board <flat piece of wood, from Old English *bord*>ing <noun suffix indicating action or result>
Etymology

The word "boarding" originates from the Old English bord, meaning "a flat piece of wood." Over time, it expanded metaphorically:

  1. Literal Sense: Initially referred to wooden planks used for construction (e.g., "floorboards").
  2. Nautical Adaptation: On ships, "boarding" meant entering via wooden planks, leading to the modern sense of "getting on a vehicle."
  3. Lodging: Inns and houses offering meals historically used long wooden tables (board), hence "room and board." The suffix -ing nominalizes the action or result.
Examples

  1. Passengers began boarding the plane 30 minutes before departure.

  2. She runs a boarding house for university students.

  3. The pirate ship was captured during a daring midnight boarding.

  4. The cost of boarding includes three meals a day.

  5. Early settlers used rough boarding to build their cabins.