[Origin obscure; found earlier as SPOILING vbl. sb.2] (See quots.)
1846. A. Young, Naut. Dict., 291. Spilings, in shipbuilding, the dimensions of the curve or sny of a plank’s edge. They are commonly measured by means of a rule-staff fastened for this purpose on the ship’s timbers.
c. 1850. Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 150. Spilings, the dimensions taken from a straight line, a mould’s edge, or rule-staff, to any given line or edge.
1894. Outing, XXIV. 21/2. To take the spiling for shaping the planks, care and patience are required.
attrib. 1869. Sir E. J. Reed, Shipbuild., xx. 457. The edges of plating … are marked upon these moulds, and spiling lines … are given out with them.
1894. Outing, XXIV. 21/2. The spiling staff or batten is cut … the length of the gunwale line and four or five inches wide.
