[Of uncertain etymology: F. bosse swelling, relief, as in ronde bosse ‘full relief,’ has been suggested; but with little apparent fitness.]
1. Masonry. To pare stone irregularly with a broad chisel and mallet.
1823. [see BOASTING vbl. sb.]
1876. Sir E. Beckett, Building, 167. Far more trouble is taken to work the stone with small chisels into artificial roughness than it would take to ‘boast’ (as they call it) into a fairly level surface.
2. Sculpture. To shape (a block) roughly before putting in details.
