What does "scantling" mean?
Scantling: 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.
Additional senses
- 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.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00