pasteboard

[peyst-bawrd, -bohrd] /ˈpeɪstˈbɔrd, -ˌboʊrd/
noun
1.
a stiff, firm board made of sheets of paper pasted or layers of paper pulp pressed together.
2.
Older Slang. a card, as a visiting card or a playing card.
3.
Older Slang. a ticket, as for the theater.
adjective
4.
made of pasteboard.
5.
unsubstantial, flimsy, or sham.
Origin
1540-50; paste + board
Related forms
pasteboardy, adjective
Examples from the web for pasteboard
  • It seems to be made out of a decidedly cheap version of pasteboard or heavy paper.
  • Towns as planless as a scattering of pasteboard boxes on an attic floor.
British Dictionary definitions for pasteboard

pasteboard

/ˈpeɪstˌbɔːd/
noun
1.
  1. a stiff board formed from layers of paper or pulp pasted together, esp as used in bookbinding
  2. (as modifier): a pasteboard book cover
2.
(slang) a card or ticket
adjective
3.
flimsy; insubstantial
4.
sham; fake
Word Origin and History for pasteboard
n.

1540s, from paste (n.) + board (n.1). So called because it is made of sheets of paper pasted together.

Slang definitions & phrases for pasteboard

pasteboard

noun
  1. A ticket of admission; annie oakley, board: He studied the coveted pasteboard (1934+)
  2. A business card or calling card (1837+)
  3. Aplaying card: Okay, shuffle the pasteboards and let's commence (1859+)

[by 1856 in the first sense, ''railroad ticket'']