A sideboard is used to serve food, store dishes and silver, and to display decorative objects and serving utensils.
Sideboards have a long, flat top and usually are about waist high. They typically have drawers or cabinets under the flat surface. They can be very elaborate in design or very simple.
The sideboard originated during the Federal period, in the early 19th century. Early sideboards were either kidney shaped or else had a recessed center and square legs.
Sideboard also refers to a board placed on a wagon to make it larger or to the boards that are on the side of a bed.
The term "sideboards" is also a British slang term referring to a man's sideburns.