Phrase guide

murder board

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A committee of questioners set up to review a proposal and/or to help someone prepare for a difficult oral examination.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Of US military origin. Murder refers to a group of crows. Petty Officers in the US Navy have a bird on their rank insignia commonly referred to as a "crow", and the petty officers themselves are sometimes referred to as crows. A murder board refers to when a junior sailor would go through a rigorous questioning session by a group of more experienced petty officers (crows, or a murder) in order to prepare them for a further oral examination conducted by higher ranked military personnel in order to attain professional qualification or some other purpose.