clapboard

plural clapboards

1. countableuncountableA narrow board, usually thicker at one edge than the other, used as siding for houses and similar structures of frame construction.

   Its exterior is covered with clapboards stained dark brown.

   2007 September 28, Wendy Moonan, New York Times

2. uncountableSuch boards, arranged horizontally and overlapping with thick edge down, collectively, as siding.

   Bond turned to the window and watched the pretty clapboard houses slip by as they approached Trenton. He loved trains and he looked forward with excitement to the rest of the journey.

   1954, Ian Fleming, “The Silver Phantom”, in Live and Let Die, London: Pan Books, published 1957, page 100

   1 more example

   As the train wound along the river valleys through western Pennsylvania the scenery grew more rugged and the painted houses of Lancaster County gave way to dirty clapboard dwellings and shack homes clinging to the mountainside.

   1953 July, Allen Rowley, “First Impressions of American Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 492

3. UKarchaiccountableuncountableAn oak board of a size used for barrel staves.

present singular third person clapboards · participle present clapboarding · participle past clapboarded · past clapboarded

1. transitiveTo cover with clapboards.

   to clapboard the sides of a house

plural clapboards

1. broadcastingA clapperboard; a device used in film production, having hinged boards that are brought together with a clap, used to synchronize picture and sound at the start of each take of a motion picture or other video production.

   Synonyms: clapperboard, clapstick, slate, slate board, sync slate, sticks, board, marker