waterboard

Meaning

Noun

1. A board set up to windward in a boat, to keep out water.
2. A public commission charged with overseeing water quality in a particular area.

Verb

To subject to waterboarding, to pour water over a cloth covering the face and breathing passages of an immobilized captive.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: water boarde

Cognate with Western Frisian: wetterboard

Cognate with Dutch: waterbord

Cognate with German: Wassertafel

Cognate with Danish: vandbræt

Cognate with Swedish: vattenbräda

Cognate with Icelandic: vatnsbretti

In summary

From Middle English water boarde, waterbord, equivalent to water + board. Compare West Frisian wetterboard (“waterboard”), Dutch waterbord (“waterboard”), German Wassertafel (“waterboard”), Danish vandbræt (“waterboard”), Swedish vattenbräda (“waterboard”), Icelandic vatnsbretti (“waterboard”).