v. Obs. [f. SUR- in the sense of ‘up’ + BED sb. 12 b (= under side of a block of stone).] trans. To set (a block of stone) edgeways (see quots.); also, to set (coal) edgeways on a fire.
1677. Plot, Oxfordsh., 76. They take care to surbed the stone, i.e. set it edg-ways, contrary to the posture it had in the bed.
c. 1680. Enquiries, 2/1. Quarries … in what order do the beds lie? whether surbedded in work, or laid as they grew in the bed?
1686. Plot, Staffordsh., iii. 126. If they would have it [coal] burn quick and flame clear,… they surbed it, i. e. set it edgways, the cleaving way next the fire.
c. 1700. Kennett, MS. Lansd. 1033, lf. 377. To surbed coal, to set it edgwaies on the fire that the heat and flame may cleave it and make it burn with greater vehemence.
1712. J. Morton, Nat. Hist. Northampt., 116. Let the Stones that are for Oven-Hearths … be set Edge-ways, or Sur-bedded, as the Masons speak, that is, the Position they had in the Earth inverted.
c. 1767. G. White, Selborne, iv. To Pennant. It is a freestone, cutting in all directions; yet has something of a grain parallel with the horizon, and therefore should not be surbedded. Ibid., note. Surbedding does not succeed in our dry walls.
