tail-board

The farmer lowers the tail-board of the wagon to unload the hay.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A flat, hinged board or gate at the back of a vehicle (such as a cart, truck, or wagon) that can be lowered or removed to facilitate loading and unloading. It is also known as a "tailgate."

Usage Examples

• (The hinged board at the back was let down.)
• (The gate at the rear was fastened.)
• (She stepped over the back board.)

Advanced Usage

• "to drop the tail-board": to lower the rear gate of a vehicle for access.

  • The delivery driver dropped the tail-board to unload the boxes. (He lowered the back gate.)

• "tail-board sale": a type of informal market where goods are sold directly from the back of a vehicle.

  • They set up a tail-board sale at the local market, selling produce from the truck. (A sale from the lowered rear gate.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tailgate (n): a more common synonym for "tail-board," especially in modern vehicles like pickup trucks.

  • He opened the tailgate to sit on it during the picnic. (The rear board of the truck.)

• Tailboard (n): an alternative spelling of "tail-board," often used in British English.

  • The removal van had a sturdy tailboard for heavy items. (The back gate.)

Synonyms

• Rear gate: a door or board at the back of a vehicle.
• Drop gate: a gate that can be lowered for loading.

Related Idioms

• • Fans gathered for a tailgate party before the football game. (They socialized using the lowered back gate.)

Phrasal Verbs