What does drainboard mean?
A drainboard is a flat or gently sloped surface, usually positioned alongside a kitchen sink, where washed dishes, glasses, cutlery, and cookware are placed to air-dry. Its slight incline allows excess water to run back into the sink rather than pooling on a countertop, making it a practical fixture in kitchens before and after the age of mechanical dishwashers. Drainboards may be built directly into a sink unit — common in mid-century American homes — or take the form of a separate metal or plastic rack. The term is standard in American English, while speakers in Britain typically say 'draining board' to refer to the same thing. The word carries an unpretentious, domestic character, evoking everyday household routines: washing up, stacking plates, and letting them drip dry. Though less prominent in modern appliance-equipped kitchens, the drainboard remains a familiar and useful term for describing both vintage fixtures and contemporary drying racks.
nounA sloped surface or board, typically beside a kitchen sink, on which wet dishes, glasses, and utensils are placed to dry, with the water draining off.
- A sloped board or surface beside a kitchen sink used for drying washed dishes, allowing water to drain away.
"She stacked the rinsed plates on the drainboard and left them to air-dry overnight."
"The enamelware sink came with a built-in drainboard that had been scrubbed smooth by decades of use."
"He set the freshly washed mugs upright along the edge of the drainboard to catch the afternoon sun."
Regular plural; used when referring to multiple boards or sinks fitted with them.
"The restaurant's prep area featured two deep stainless-steel sinks with matching drainboards."
Before dishwashers existed, the drainboard was where every plate in America ended its journey — and it's still built right into many vintage sinks today.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of drainboard
Drainboard is a straightforward English compound formed from the verb 'drain' plus 'board', describing exactly what the object does — a board that drains water from wet dishes. The verb 'drain' derives from Old English 'drēahnian', meaning to filter or strain gradually, which itself relates to the noun 'drēahn', a pipe or channel for drawing off liquid. The compound emerged in American English, likely during the nineteenth century as indoor plumbing and dedicated kitchen sinks became widespread. It shares its Germanic root with related words such as 'drainage' and 'drainpipe'.
How drainboard is actually used
Primarily an American English term; British speakers more commonly say 'draining board' for the same item. The word has a domestic, everyday register with no strong connotations. It often refers to either a built-in part of a sink unit or a separate portable rack.
Easily confused with drainboard
A draining board is essentially the same object but is the more common British English term; 'drainboard' is the standard American form.