Scantling

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. A fragment; a bit; a little piece. Specifically:

2. 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.

3. A small quantity; a little bit; not much. [Obs.] Reducing them to narrow scantlings. Jer. Taylor.

4. A piece of timber sawed or cut of a small size, as for studs, rails, etc.

5. The dimensions of a piece of timber with regard to its breadth and thickness; hence, the measure or dimensions of anything.

6. A rough draught; a rude sketch or outline.

7. A frame for casks to lie upon; a trestle. Knight.

Part of speech: adjective (a.)

Not plentiful; small; scanty. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.