scantling

English edit

English Wikipedia has an article on:

scantling

Etymology edit

Alteration of scantillon +‎ -ling, from Old French escantillon (“sample pattern”) (Modern French échantillon). Later senses also influenced by similarity with scant.

Pronunciation edit

IPA^(key): /ˈskæntlɪŋ/
Audio (Southern England) (file)
Hyphenation: scant‧ling

Noun edit

scantling (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.
- 1603, Michel de Montaigne, translated by John Florio, The Essayes […], London: […] Val[entine] 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 [Bacon], “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[emy] 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 edit

small upright beam of timber used in construction

German: Stiel (de) m, Pfosten (de) m, Stütze (de) f

timber in the form of small beams and pieces

German: Latte (de) f, Kantholz (de) n, Brett (de) n
Ukrainian: брус (uk) m (brus)

Adjective edit

scantling (comparative more scantling, superlative most scantling)

Not plentiful; small; scanty.
- 1652, Edward Benlowes, Theophila:
  Heav'ns Glorie to atchieve, what scantling Span Hath the frail Pilgrimage of Man!

References edit

“scantling”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams edit

cantlings