switchboard
[
swich
-bawrd, -bohrd]
/ˈswɪtʃˌbɔrd, -ˌboʊrd/
noun
,
Electricity
1.
a structural unit on which are mounted
switches
and instruments necessary to complete telephone circuits manually.
2.
Also called
lightboard
. a panel of
switches
, dimmers, etc., for controlling the lighting on a stage or in an auditorium.
Origin
1870-75,
Americanism;
switch
+
board
Examples from the web for
switchboard
The jobs lost will be low-paying ones, such as bank tellers and
switchboard
operators.
The
switchboard
operator routed her call to the hotel's security dispatcher.
The hospital
switchboard
, following orders, declined.
However, taps through the large
switchboard
at a newspaper or a government agency were not feasible, and were not installed.
Most communications equipment operators work as
switchboard
operators or telephone operators for a wide variety of businesses.
Submit certified reports of factory tests performed on each
switchboard
unit.
British Dictionary definitions for
switchboard
switchboard
/
ˈswɪtʃˌbɔːd
/
noun
1.
an installation in a telephone exchange, office, hotel, etc, at which the interconnection of telephone lines is manually controlled
2.
an assembly of switchgear for the control of power supplies in an installation or building
Word Origin and History for
switchboard
n.
1873, from
switch
(n.) +
board
(n.1).