J. Hector St. Jean de Crevecoeur's "Letters from an American Farmer"

scantlings

scant·​ling ˈskant-liŋ  
-lən
Noun
1
a
: the dimensions of timber and stone used in building
b
: the dimensions of a structural element used in shipbuilding —often used in plural
2
: a small quantity, amount, or proportion : MODICUM
3
: a small piece of lumber (such as an upright piece in house framing)

Source