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.

---

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

---

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

Not many people were near me and I paddled around awhile on my piece of scantling and got a little way out from the boat.

From Washington Times

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

The two decks above the B deck were of comparatively light scantling, but strong enough to insure their proving satisfactory in these positions in rough weather.

From Project Gutenberg

The previous description of the God of the Bible is but a scantling of what is written concerning his dealings, even with the seed of Abram.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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