scantling

[ skant-ling ]

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.

scantling

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of scantling¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of scantling¹

C16: changed (through influence of scant and -ling ¹) from earlier scantillon, a carpenter's gauge, from Old Norman French escantillon, ultimately from Latin scandere to climb; see scan

Example Sentences

It lay, tongued and grooved, with the scantling for fixing it, just where the timber merchant's men had deposited it—on the floor.

From Project Gutenberg

Mayo saw that it was a long strip of scantling, undoubtedly from the deckload that the Polly had jettisoned when she was tripped.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Speed boosted Mayo and the young man attached the cloth to the scantling and flung their banner to the breeze.

From Project Gutenberg

I saw the slates at the foot of the weathercock, that they were thinly edged and of light scantling.

From Project Gutenberg

I found a hiding place in a pile of boards or scantling, where I kept concealed during that day.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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