clapboard

noun

clap·​board ˈkla-bərd How to pronounce clapboard (audio) ˈkla(p)-ˌbȯrd How to pronounce clapboard (audio)
1
archaic : a size of board for making staves and wainscoting
2
: a narrow board usually thicker at one edge than the other used for siding
3
ˈklap-ˌbȯrd How to pronounce clapboard (audio) : a slate with information identifying a piece of film that is topped with a hinged arm which claps down to mark the start of a take (see take entry 2 sense 2a(1)) to facilitate editing

called also clapper board

clapboard transitive verb

Examples of clapboard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One of the most iconic New England summer escapes, Nantucket is known for its clapboard cottages (and, sure, mega-mansions), sandy beaches, hydrangeas, and elite charm. — Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 9 Aug. 2026 Their geometry implies a reassuring sense of something permanent—and permanently right—about a deeply American scene, along with white clapboard houses, red barns, rolling hills, goldenrod. — Matt Seaton, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026 While aerial views of the island are flashes of blue-green waters and flat, beige beaches, inland is clad in colorful clapboard homes and remnants of its former glory. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 July 2026 That a series finally found some new themes to focus on is as much a soothing break as all the B-roll of ocean waves and clapboard houses. — Alison Herman, Variety, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for clapboard

Word History

Etymology

partial translation of Dutch klaphout stave wood

First Known Use

circa 1520, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of clapboard was circa 1520

Rhymes for clapboard

See All Rhymes for clapboard

Browse Nearby Words

clapback
clapboard
clapbread
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clapboard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clapboard. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

clapboard

noun
clap·​board ˈklab-ərd How to pronounce clapboard (audio) ˈkla(p)-ˌbō(ə)rd How to pronounce clapboard (audio)
-ˌbȯ(ə)rd
: a narrow board thicker at one edge than at the other used to cover the sides of wooden buildings
clapboard verb

More from Merriam-Webster on clapboard

Nglish: Translation of clapboard for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about clapboard

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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