scratchboard

noun

scratch·​board ˈskrach-ˌbȯrd How to pronounce scratchboard (audio)
: a black-surfaced cardboard having an undercoat of white clay on which an effect resembling engraving is achieved by scratching away portions of the surface to produce white lines

Examples of scratchboard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Kimpton Hotels provide pet beds, food and water bowls, plus litter trays, dog leashes and cat scratchboards, for no extra charge, according to its website. Bella Stoddart, CNBC, 25 Feb. 2025 Features photography, oil, watercolor, acrylic and scratchboard. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 29 Aug. 2022 The 152-page hardcover book traces the graphic artist's journey along the historic route through a series of black-and-white illustrations, created using a knife and coated scratchboard. Kristin Larson | Wwd, latimes.com, 9 May 2018

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1908, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scratchboard was circa 1908

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scratchboard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scratchboard. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on scratchboard

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!