scantling
Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word scantling. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word scantling, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say scantling in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word scantling you have here. The definition of the word scantling will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofscantling, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Alteration of scantillon + -ling, from Old French escantillon (“sample pattern”) (Modern French échantillon). Later senses also influenced by similarity with scant.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈskæntlɪŋ/
Audio (Southern England): (file) - Hyphenation: scant‧ling
Noun
scantling (countable and uncountable, plural scantlings)
- (chiefly in the plural) The set size or dimension of a piece of timber, stone etc., or materials used to build ships or aircraft.
- (archaic) A small portion, a scant amount.
- Synonyms: jot, tidbit; see also Thesaurus:modicum
- 1603, Michel de Montaigne, translated by John Florio, The Essayes , London: Val Simmes for Edward Blount , →OCLC:, Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.204:
- For one may have particular knowledge of the nature of one river, and experience of the qualitie of one fountaine, that in other things knowes no more than another man: who neverthelesse to publish this little scantling, will undertake to write all of the Physickes.
- 1625, Francis , “Of Honor and Reputation”, in The Essayes , 3rd edition, London: Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
- Such as exceed not this scantling, to be solace to the sovereign and harmless to the people.
- 1641 May, John Milton, Of Reformation Touching Church-Discipline in England: And the Cavvses that hitherto have Hindred it; republished as Will Taliaferro Hale, editor, Of Reformation Touching Church-Discipline in England (Yale Studies in English; LIV), New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1916, →OCLC:
- A pretty scantling of his knowledge may taken by his deferring to be baptized so many years.
- 1651, Jer Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. , 2nd edition, London: Francis Ashe , →OCLC:
- Reducing them to narrow scantlings.
- A small, upright beam of timber used in construction, especially less than five inches square.
- (uncountable) Timber in the form of small beams and pieces.
- 1899, Kate Chopin, The Awakening:
- Victor, with hammer and nails and scraps of scantling, was patching a corner of one of the galleries.
- (obsolete) A rough draught; a crude sketch or outline.
- (obsolete) A frame for casks to lie upon; a trestle.
- 1855, The Vine:
- These casks should be placed upon scantling or scaffolding , and not upon the ground in the cellar
Translations
small upright beam of timber used in construction
timber in the form of small beams and pieces
See also
Adjective
scantling (comparative more scantling, superlative most scantling)
- Not plentiful; small; scanty.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:inadequate, Thesaurus:rare
- 1652, Edward Benlowes, Theophila:
- Heav'ns Glorie to atchieve, what scantling Span Hath the frail Pilgrimage of Man!
References
- “scantling”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.