Western Seaboard?
Tuesday May 20, 2008
Eileen wrote to ask about the use of the term "Seaboard" as in Eastern Seaboard. Fascinatingly, the Oxford English Dictionary provides a definition of the word "board" as, "The border or side of anything; a hem; an edge; a coast." The dictionary also reports that the word "board" is obsolete except when used in seaboard. So does anyone know how this use came about to refer to the Atlantic or East Coast of the United States? Why don't we refer to the Western Seaboard? Share your comments below!
Comments
well, im thinking that if this usage of ‘board’ is nearly obsolete, then that explains why we dont usually say ‘western seaboard’. obviously, there really wasnt a western seaboard for some time back when the term was first used in the east and before our nation expanded with the louisianna purchase. by the time there was a western seaboard with any kind of population of u.s. citizens, the term was no longer in popular mode! of course old habits die hard- so eastern seaboard is still commonly used today.