baseboard

American  

[beys-bawrd, -bohrd] / ˈbeɪsˌbɔrd, -ˌboʊrd /

noun

1. Also called mopboard, skirt.  a board forming the foot of an interior wall.

2. a board forming the base bases of anything.

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baseboard British  

/ ˈbeɪsˌbɔːd /

noun

1. a board functioning as the base of anything

2. Also called: skirting board.  a skirting made of wood

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Etymology

Origin of baseboard

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; base ¹ + board

Example Sentences

Often, the instinct is to just begin: grab a garbage bag, empty the freezer, start wiping baseboards, briefly consider alphabetizing your spices.

From Salon

From my spot on the stained carpet, I can see two spider webs and flowered wallpaper that’s peeling at the baseboard.

From Literature

I listen to Togo push his bowl from one side of the kitchen to the other, the metal dish pinging against the baseboards.

From Literature

They meticulously vacuum, and scrub the walls, windows, baseboards and floors, clearing every open surface and precious possession of reminders of the Eaton fire.

From Los Angeles Times

As she stuffed more linens around the baseboards, water flowed from beneath her kitchen cabinets and through her bathroom.

From Los Angeles Times