scabble, v.
(ˈskæb(ə)l)
Also 7 skable, 7–9 scable.
[Later variant of scapple.]
1. trans. To rough-dress (stone).
| 1620 Brent tr. Sarpi's Counc. Trent ii. 238 As the chezil is actiue, not onely in scabling the stone, but in giuing forme to the Statue. 1624 Althorp MS. in Simpkinson Washingtons (1860) App. p. lvi, To Blisse one daie scabling stone for the kitchen range att the stone pitts. 1833 Loudon Encycl. Archit. §939 Stones are said to be scappled or scabbled when they are dressed with the pick end of the hammer. 1848 Acc. Quarrendon Church 7 The external walls are built with random-jointed squared ashlar, scabbled. 1852 T. Wright Celt, Roman, & Saxon v. 154 The facings of the stones in Hadrian's Wall are sometimes roughly tooled, or, as it is technically termed, scabbled with the pick. |
2. Iron-manuf. = cabble v.
| 1849, 1875 [see cabble v.]. |
Hence ˈscabbler, a workman whose occupation is scabbling; a hammer used in rough-dressing stone; ˈscabbling vbl. n., rough-dressing; concr. in pl., chips of stone; attrib. in scabbling-axe, scabbling-hammer = scabbler.
| 1790 Grose Prov. Gloss. (ed. 2), Scablines, chippings of stone. North. 1825 J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 537 The only preparation the stones undergo, is that of knocking off the sharp angles with the thick end of a tool called a scabling hammer. 1843 Holtzapffel Turning, etc. I. 171 The scabblers use heavy pointed picks. 1881 Instr. Census Clerks (1885) 86 Scabbler. 1881 Leic. Gloss. 231 Scabblings, the chips or refuse of stone made in scabbling it. Ibid., Scabble, to rough dress stone with an axe for the purpose, called a Scabbling-axe. 1893–4 Northumbld. Gloss. II. 597 The tool used for the purpose [scabbling] is variously called a ‘scaplar’ or ‘scabbler’. |