spall

American  

[spawl] / spɔl /

noun

1. a chip or splinter, as of stone or ore.

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verb (used with object)

1. to break into smaller pieces, as ore; split or chip.

verb (used without object)

1. to break or split off in chips or bits.

spall British  

/ spɔːl /

noun

1. a splinter or chip of ore, rock, or stone

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verb

1. to split or cause to split into such fragments

Other Word Forms

• nonspalling adjective
• spaller noun

Etymology

Origin of spall

1750–60; origin uncertain; compare late Middle English spalle a chip

Example Sentences

Even if they are not breached, they can spall, and you can have concrete falling down onto the reactor vessel.

From Scientific American • Mar. 4, 2022

At least one other such white man exists—Chipper Joseph A. Barbieri of Pasadena, Cal., who can reduce stone nodules to thin blades, strike a spall from a brittle nucleus, by freehand percussion.

From Time Magazine Archive

The hanging wall is strong, and will not crush or spall off waste into the ore.

From Principles of Mining Valuation, Organization and Administration by Hoover, Herbert

In a fragile material like concrete the corners spall off under a compressive load, and the square section will not show up as well as an octagonal or round one.

From Some Mooted Questions in Reinforced Concrete Design American Society of Civil Engineers, Transactions, Paper No. 1169, Volume LXX, Dec. 1910 by Godfrey, Edward

I takes a moderate little spall to dew it in.

From Vesty of the Basins by Greene, Sarah P. McLean