scapple

Verb

scapple (third-person singular simple present scapples, present participle scappling, simple past and past participle scappled)

1. (transitive) To work roughly, or shape without finishing, as stone before leaving the quarry.
   • Where the forms of the stones are irregular, a duplicate set of templets is sent to the quarries in order that they may be roughly scappled into shape by the quarryman, which saves expense of carriage, and also much of the subsequent labour of the mason.1849, Edward Dobson, A rudimentary treatise on Masonry and Stonecutting, page 33
   • Bluestone ashlar work, with rustic chamfered joints, the faces of the stones being left rough, as scappled from the quarry, at per cubic foot.1857, Victoria. Parliament. Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Papers, page 34
2. (transitive) To dress (e.g. stone) in any way short of fine tooling or rubbing.
   • The door scuncheons and lintels of the cart-house and loose cattle sheds are to be neatly draughted and scappled (stones are said to scappled or scabbled, when they are dressed with the pick end of the hammer; they are called draughted and scappled when worked round the edges or joints with a...1835, John Claudius Loudon, An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture, page 469
   • Paving is to be properly scappled, squared, and jointed, and bedded in mortar upon hard and dry rubble which has been well rammed.1836, John Claudius Loudon, The Architectural Magazine - Volume 3, page 20