Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Scantling
Scant′ling
,Noun.
[Cf. OF. ]
eschantillon
, F. échantillon
, a sample, pattern, example. In some senses confused with scant
insufficient. See Scantle
, Verb.
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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Scantling
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, &c. 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
,Adj.
Definition 2024
scantling
scantling
English
Noun
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, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, 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.
- Francis Bacon
- Such as exceed not this scantling, to be solace to the sovereign and harmless to the people.
- Milton
- A pretty scantling of his knowledge may taken by his deferring to be baptized so many years.
- Jeremy Taylor
- Reducing them to narrow scantlings.
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.204:
- A small, upright timber used in construction, especially less than five inches square.
- (obsolete) A rough draught; a crude sketch or outline.
- (obsolete) A frame for casks to lie upon; a trestle.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Knight to this entry?)
See also
Adjective
scantling (comparative more scantling, superlative most scantling)
- Not plentiful; small; scanty.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Jeremy Taylor to this entry?)