The Collaborative International Dictionary
Running \Run"ning\, a.
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Moving or advancing by running. Specifically, of a horse:
Having a running gait; not a trotter or pacer.
trained and kept for running races; as, a running horse.
--Law.
Successive; one following the other without break or intervention; -- said of periods of time; as, to be away two days running; to sow land two years running.
Flowing; easy; cursive; as, a running hand.
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Continuous; keeping along step by step; as, he stated the facts with a running explanation. ``A running conquest.''
--Milton.What are art and science if not a running commentary on Nature?
--Hare. (Bot.) Extending by a slender climbing or trailing stem; as, a running vine.
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(Med.) Discharging pus; as, a running sore.
Running block (Mech.), a block in an arrangement of pulleys which rises or sinks with the weight which is raised or lowered.
Running board, a narrow platform extending along the side of a locomotive.
Wiktionary
n. A narrow board serving as a step beneath the doors of some cars.
WordNet
n. a narrow footboard serving as a step beneath the doors of some old cars
Wikipedia
A running board is a narrow step fitted under the side doors of a car or truck. It aids entry, especially into high vehicles, and is typical of vintage cars, which had much higher ground clearances than today's vehicles. It is also used as a fashion statement on vehicles that would not otherwise require it. The origin of the name running board is obscure; the first running boards predate automobiles and were installed on carriages as early as the 17th century. Whether the running board was named after the inventor or in reference to function is open to debate.
Back in the early 20th century, all automobiles were equipped with running boards. The necessity of using them was caused by the fact that first cars were designed with a narrow, high body bolted to the chassis. A running board served as a step to a vehicle's cabin and was wide enough to serve as a place to sit or even lie down for an adult.
During the 1920s and 1930s, car design was evolving rapidly to become more sleek and aerodynamic. It eliminated the need for running boards. The first automobile designed without running boards was the 1936 Cord. It changed the attitude towards running boards for many years ahead.
Running boards may also be used to stand on while the vehicle is moving. The name running board is also given to safety appliances for walking on top of rail cars.
Usage examples of "running board".
But every once in a while, on humorless nights like these, I think about how sharp and sure I felt when I was sprinting across those manicured lawns, jumping the finely-trimmed hedges and hitting the running board on that slow-cruising truck.
I observed that in getting on this third man missed the running board several times, either because of clumsiness or poor eyesight.
There was a young man standing on the running board next to Nicole, dressed in a black jumpsuit with a rubbery collar which came up to his chin.
Now he had to muster all his strength to keep the furious jolts from shaking him from his perch on the narrow running board.
I landed on both feet in the middle of the street, took a half-step back to avoid the leading bumper on a Mercedes 920 XL, then spun around and hopped on the running board of a Pierce Arrow landau reconstruction.
He jumped off the running board, waved at the other campers, and said, “.