What does "aboveboard" mean?
Aboveboard: Above the board or table. Hence: in open sight; without trick, concealment, or deception. "Fair and aboveboard." Burke. Note: This expression is said by Johnson to have been borrowed from gamesters, who, when they change their cards, put their hands under the table.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
- Canonical URL: https://worddirectanswers.com/answers/what-does-aboveboard-mean
- Steward: Jason Burns
- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00