spall
noun
- fragment
verb
- break into fragments
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /spɔːl/ / /spɔl/ / /spɑl/
name
Etymology: Unknown.
- A surname.
noun
Etymology: From Italian spalla. Doublet of spauld and spatula.
- The shoulder.
“Their mightie ſtrokes their haberieons diſmayld, / And naked made each others manly ſpalles; […]”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English spalle (“a chip”) (first documented in 1440), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from the Middle English verb spald (“to split”) (c.1400), from Middle Low German spalden, cognate with Old High German spaltan (“to split”).
- To break into fragments or small pieces.
“Cobbed Ore is the ſpalled which is broke out of the ſolid large ſtones with ſledges”
“Drones will give an idea of the worst bits, but if it's lightly spalled then I don't know if they will necessarily see that.”
- To undergo weathering, aging, or other wear that involves the crumbling of the substrate.
“When the bearing race spalled under high load, it led to the failure of the bearing.”
“Once the concrete had spalled extensively, the bridge could no longer pass an honest inspection.”
- To reduce, as irregular blocks of stone, to an approximately level surface by hammering.