Scantling

Scantling

ˈskan(t)liNG

Noun

  • A specimen, sample, or small amount of something.
  • A piece of lumber of a small cross section.
  • The size to which a piece of wood or stone is measured and cut.

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Example Sentences

“The garden yielded a scantling of tomatoes after the unexpected frost.”

“He had just a scantling of energy left after the marathon.”

“He wedged a scantling of wood under the chair leg to stop it from wobbling.”

Word Origin

French, early 16th century

Why this word?

“Scantling,” meaning “a little bit of something,” comes from the Old French word “escantillon,” which means “sample.” Interestingly, the adjective “scant” (“barely sufficient or adequate”) does not share this root, even though the words look similar. “Scant” comes from the Old Norse word “skamt,” meaning “short.” In addition to describing a small volume of something, “scantling” can apply to measurements of all sizes in woodworking or building. It can be the size of a measured cut of wood or stone, but “scantling” is also used in shipbuilding for a set of standard dimensions. Use context clues to determine the correct version of “scantling.”

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Learn a new word Recherché

rəˌSHerˈSHā