scantling
scant·ling/ˈskæntlɪŋ/noun, adjective
scantling is spelled S-C-A-N-T-L-I-N-G: 9 letters and 2 syllables (scant·ling). It appears about once in every 36 million words in written English, the 184,844th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, scantling means “The set size or dimension of a piece of timber, stone etc., or materials used to build ships or aircraft” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of scantling is scantlings.
How many letters and syllables are in scantling?
| Letters | 9: S-C-A-N-T-L-I-N-G |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: scant·ling |
| In writing | about once in every 36 million words; the 184,844th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is scantling?
Scantling appears about once in every 36 million words in written English, the 184,844th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce scantling?
- /ˈskæntlɪŋ/
Scantling has 2 syllables, split scant·ling in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-scantling.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of scantling
- scantlings plural
- more scantling comparative
- most scantling superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does scantling mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The set size or dimension of a piece of timber, stone etc., or materials used to build ships or aircraft.
- 2
archaicA small portion, a scant amount.
For one may have particular knowledge of the nature of one river, and experience of the qualitie of one fountaine, that in other things knowes no more than another man: who neverthelesse to publish this little scantling, will undertake to w
- 3
A small, upright beam of timber used in construction, especially less than five inches square.
- 4
Timber in the form of small beams and pieces.
- 5
obsoleteA rough draught; a crude sketch or outline.
- 6
obsoleteA frame for casks to lie upon; a trestle.
adjective
- 1
Not plentiful; small; scanty.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Scantling in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does scantling come from?
Alteration of scantillon + -ling, from Old French escantillon (“sample pattern”) (Modern French échantillon). Later senses also influenced by similarity with scant.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).