spall

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable) A splinter, fragment or chip, especially of stone.
2. (uncountable) A process of weathering, aging, or other wear that involves the crumbling of the substrate.

Verb

1. (ambitransitive) To break into fragments or small pieces.
2. (especially) To undergo weathering, aging, or other wear that involves the crumbling of the substrate.
3. (transitive) To reduce, as irregular blocks of stone, to an approximately level surface by hammering.

Synonyms

spawl

chip

macadam

schist

shard

sherd

splinter

split

break off

reduced stone

flagstone

Translations

absplittern

zerbröckeln

abplatzen

splinter

parçalanmak

Steinsplitter

scheggia

frammento

ufak taş parçası

splinteren

versplinteren

astilla

Splitter

Pronounced as (IPA)

/spɔːl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: spalle

Cognate with Old High German: spaltan

In summary

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”).