A "sprue" is the cardboard sheet from which you punch out game pieces

I first came across the term "sprue" in board gaming, when my board gamer friend Stephen Conway thespiel.bsky.social used it in casual conversation.

In manufacturing, a sprue is a large diameter vertical channel through which liquid material is introduced into a mold. (Source and Source) In medicine, sprue is a disorder in which the intestines are unable to absorb nutrients from food. (Source).

Dooley aka mwdooley.bsky.social points out that the term "sprue" is used in the model making world.

And Alicia aka foodycatalicia.bsky.social adds that "sprue" also refers to asparagus!

Thanks, Dooley and Alicia!