Punchboard (Noun)
Meaning
A small board full of holes; each hole contains a slip of paper with symbols printed on it; a gambler pays a small sum for the privilege of pushing out a slip in the hope of obtaining one that entitles him to a prize.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The vendor touted his punchboard as an exciting way for people to win great prizes for just a few dollars.
- Gambler's luck ran dry as he emptied his wallet on the punchboard, never once getting a winning slip.
- She examined the symbols on her punchboard slips, trying to figure out what she could have won.
- A person bought multiple punches on the punchboard and eventually found the winning slip they had been hoping for.
- The local fair still allowed the use of traditional punchboards despite some objections about the potential for scamming or rigged games.