scantling

American  

[skant-ling] / ˈskænt lɪŋ /

noun

1. a timber of relatively slight width and thickness, as a stud or rafter in a house frame.

2. such timbers collectively.

3. the width and thickness of a timber.

4. the dimensions of a building stone.

5. Nautical.

   1. a dressed timber or rolled metal member used as a framing member in a vessel.

   2. the dimension, in cross section, of a framing member.

6. a small quantity or amount.

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scantling British  

/ ˈskæntlɪŋ /

noun

1. a piece of sawn timber, such as a rafter, that has a small cross section

2. the dimensions of a piece of building material or the structural parts of a ship, esp those in cross section

3. a building stone, esp one that is more than 6 feet in length

4. a small quantity or amount

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Etymology

Origin of scantling

1520–30; scant + -ling ¹; replacing Middle English scantilon < Old French escantillon gauge

Example Sentences

Eighty-two shipments of teak consisting mostly of board and scantling used for shipbuilding, outdoor decking and furniture were exported last year, according to the watchdog group, whose findings were gleaned from the trade database Panjiva.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2022

Last week, after six years' inspection of every scantling and joist of MOP's overbalanced capital structure, the Interstate Commerce Commission issued its plan of reorganization.

From Time Magazine Archive

Victor, with hammer and nails and scraps of scantling, was patching a comer of one of the galleries.

From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin

There was no make-up about me,—no lacquering, no paint, no padding; all honest scantling from keel to taffrail.

From Tony Butler by Lever, Charles James

They taught in hedge schools, and, though but coarsely educated themselves, preserved the scantling there was of knowledge and civilization among the people.

From Irish History and the Irish Question by Smith, Goldwin

Related Words

• girder
• joist
• piling
• pillar
• plank
• pole
• shaft
• sill
• timber