Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adverb & adjective Without deceit or trickery; straightforward.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In open sight; without tricks or disguise: as, an honest man deals aboveboard; his actions are open and aboveboard.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb Above the board or table. Hence: in open sight; without trick, concealment, or deception.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Alternative form of above-board.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective without concealment or deception; honest
  • adverb in an honest manner

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Originally a gambling term referring to the fact that a gambler whose hands were above the board or gaming table could not engage in trickery, such as changing cards, below the table.]

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Examples

Comments

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  • 1906 US Railway Assn. Standard Cipher Code, shorthand for "Would advise you not to accept".

    January 19, 2013