Wages allowed to servants to keep themselves in victual.
1539. Househ. Ord. (1790), 211. Bills of allowance for Wages and Boardwages.
1557. Order of Hospitals, Fvj.
1692. Southerne, Wives Excuse, I. i. Dram. Wks. (1721), 270. Starve under the tyranny of a Housekeeper, and never know the comfort of boardwages again.
1695. Congreve, Love for L., I. i. 12. If you please, I had rather be at Board-wages.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 46. They are on board wages.