Adjacent Words

Scantling definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SCANT'LING, n.
1. A pattern; a quantity cut for a particular purpose.
2. A small quantity; as a scantling of wit.
3. A certain proportion or quantity.
4. In the United States, timber sawed or cut into pieces of a small size, as for studs, rails, etc. This seems to be allied to the L. scandula, and it is the sense in which I have ever heard it used in this country.
5. In seamen's language, the dimensions of a piece of timber, with regard to its breadth and thickness.
SCANT'LING, a. Not plentiful; small. [Not in use.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an upright in house framing [syn: scantling, stud]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: alteration of Middle English scantilon, mason's or carpenter's measure, from Anglo-French escauntiloun, eschantillon Date: 1555 1. a. the dimensions of timber and stone used in building b. the dimensions of a structural element used in shipbuilding — often used in plural 2. a small quantity, amount, or proportion ; modicum 3. a small piece of lumber (as an upright piece in house framing)

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a a timber beam of small cross-section. b a size to which a stone or timber is to be cut. 2 a set of standard dimensions for parts of a structure, esp. in shipbuilding. 3 (usu. foll. by of) archaic a a specimen or sample. b one's necessary supply; a modicum or small amount. Etymology: alt. after -LING(1) f. obs. scantlon f. OF escantillon sample

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Scantling Scant"ling, a. [See Scant, a.] Not plentiful; small; scanty. [Obs.] --Jer. Taylor.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Scantling Scant"ling, n. [Cf. OF. eschantillon, F. ['e]chantillon, a sample, pattern, example. In some senses confused with scant insufficient. See Scantle, v. t.] 1. A fragment; a bit; a little piece. Specifically: (a) A piece or quantity cut for a special purpose; a sample. [Obs.] Such as exceed not this scantling; -- to be solace to the sovereign and harmless to the people. --Bacon. A pretty scantling of his knowledge may taken by his deferring to be baptized so many years. --Milton. (b) A small quantity; a little bit; not much. [Obs.] Reducing them to narrow scantlings. --Jer. Taylor. 2. A piece of timber sawed or cut of a small size, as for studs, rails, etc. 3. The dimensions of a piece of timber with regard to its breadth and thickness; hence, the measure or dimensions of anything. 4. A rough draught; a rude sketch or outline. 5. A frame for casks to lie upon; a trestle. --Knight.