The humble wooden plank, or board, has played a very important part in the history of the English language:
— board games. Games played or scribbled on a board.
— chairman of the board/board of directors. The most important person sat next to the fire at the board (table) from which people ate and met.
— cupboard — a board from which cups and utensils were hung.
— boarding house, boarder, boarding - derives from the food served on the table or board.
— above board (honest) — someone who didn’t keep cards or weapons under the “board” or table
— boards — stage vernacular, meaning the floor or stage.
— overboard, on board, boarding pass - all the nautical stuff referred to the boards the sides of the ship were made from.
— bored — what one gets hit with when one doesn’t pay attention.~