dashboard
UK: ˈdæʃbɔːd | US: ˈdæʃbɔːrd
n. 1. A panel in a vehicle displaying instruments and controls.
n. 2. A graphical user interface summarizing key data (e.g., in software).
n. 3. (Historical) A protective board at the front of a horse-drawn carriage.
The word originated in the early 19th century, referring to a wooden board ("board") fixed at the front of a carriage to protect passengers from mud or debris "dashed" (thrown violently) by horses' hooves. With the rise of automobiles, the term evolved to denote the instrument panel, retaining its protective function metaphorically. The modern computing sense (data dashboard) extends the idea of a centralized display.
The driver checked the speedometer on the dashboard.
The project dashboard highlights real-time metrics for the team.
Rain splattered against the car’s dashboard during the storm.
Early carriages used leather straps to secure the dashboard.
She customized her analytics dashboard for better readability.