emery board

noun

1. a small, stiff strip of paper or cardboard, coated with powdered emery, used in manicuring.

emery board

noun

1. a strip of cardboard or wood with a rough surface of crushed emery, for filing one's nails

Word History and Origins

Origin of emery board¹

First recorded in 1715–25

Example Sentences

Less than a week earlier, Joe Niekro of the Minnesota Twins was caught with an emery board and a piece of sandpaper in his pocket during a game against the Angels at Anaheim Stadium.

From Los Angeles Times

Joe Niekro had an emery board and a piece of sandpaper.

From Washington Times

And he took an emery board out of his pocket and began filing his nails.

From Literature

“I know it’s foreign, but he’s not trying to cheat. Maybe he’s trying to get an advantage because he’s reading the scouting report, but it wasn’t pine tar, it wasn’t an emery board, it wasn’t whatever.”

From Reuters

“And I showed them the card. It wasn’t an emery board, or anything else that people have been caught with.”

From Los Angeles Times