Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to woo a woman as a preliminary to love-making.

1594		Lyly Mother Bombie II iii: Sweet wench thy face is louely, thy bodie comely [...] I am bold to boord you.
1602		Shakespeare All’s Well That Ends Well V iii: Certain it is I liked her, And boarded her i’ the wanton way of youth.
a.1618		J. Harington Epigrams III No. 40: A Maid [...] he wedded, / And after hee had boorded her, and bedded [...] His wiues old seruant waxed his new master.
1622		Middleton & Rowley The Changeling I i: Yonder’s another vessel, I’ll board her, If she be lawful prize, down goes her top-sail.
1627		G. Peele Merrie Conceited Jests 17: Hee fell in company with a Cockatrice; which pleased his eye so well, that George fell aboarding of her, and proffered her the wine, which my Croshabell willingly accepted.
1694		J. Crowne Married Beau III ii: So! She’s alone! now will I board my Prize. Dear Madam!

2. (also go on board) to have sexual intercourse, thus n. playing on SE board, cost of a hotel bed, the price of commercial sex (see cite 1842).

c.1600		Shakespeare Hamlet II ii: Away! I do beseech you, both away. I’ll board him presently.
1639		J. Shirley Gentleman of Venice III i: mal.: But where’s my wanton Pinnace? ber.: Boorded by some man of war.
1650		H. Neville Newes from the New Exchange 5: [H]e that means to board her, must put off his dublet and swim, it being the same size with a Fish-Pond.
1665		Head Eng. Rogue I 363: But at last [...] I boarded her, and made her lawful prize.
1673		Arrowsmith Reformation II i: Though two to one be odds, I must board them; Heaven send they don’t prove Fire-ships.
1685		‘The Coy Cook-Maid’ in Euing Broadside Ballads No. 45: At last she married a taylor good lord, / And he the greasy frigate did board.
c.1705		‘The Thing’ in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) II 124: Jack Tar full of Glee to the Garden will strole, / In search Sirs of something like L--g; / There boards on Moll Jenkins, and swears by his Soul, / She Rig’d fore and aft quite th’ Thing.
1710		C. Shadwell Fair Quaker of Deal III ii: I’d have you take care who you ravish; for a great many Women in this Town don’t love to be boarded by Force.
1731		News from the New-Exchange (2 edn) [as 1650].
1790		Banquet of Wit 13: They are so gross in their remarks [...] ‘Young Ladies boarded by A Bull,’ &c.
1832		Satirist (London) 22 Jan. 31/3: My tight little frigate, I cannot go on board of you to night. I have been firing grape with a Frenchman, until I am half-seas over.
1837		‘The Trap Door’ in Icky-Wickey Songster 45: One night she was boarded by a young ’squire / And the very next day, found her flue was on fire.
1842		Whip & Satirist of NY & Brooklyn (NY) 12 Feb. n.p.: Although to boarding used you are, / And ploughing, too, the open sea.
1842		Flash (NY) 4 Sept. n.p.: [of a prostitute’s client] the flash wants to know Who that old sucker is who visits S. in Ch — street, and how much does it cost him for his board.

3. to live as a brothel prostitute.

1842		Whip & Satirist of NY & Brooklyn (NY) 16 Apr. n.p.: Miss Susan Brown, who is one of the finest girls boarding at 19 Elizabeth street.
1850		Life in Boston & N.Y. (Boston, MA) 6 Apr. n.p.: Rachel is boarding at Anna Clark’s establishment.
1857		Life in Boston & N.Y. (Boston, MA) 11 Apr. n.p.: How does Dido Williams like boarding at 49 Billerica street?
1861		N.E. Police Gaz. (Boston, MA) 12 Oct. 5/1: Adelaide Devon, who boards at the Berkeley House.