Scantle

Old French escanteler, eschanteler.

Full definition of scantle

Verb

1. (obsolete, transitive) To scant; to be niggardly with; to divide into small pieces; to cut short or down.
• J. WebsterAll their pay
  Must your discretion scantle; keep it back.

scant + -le

Verb

1. (intransitive) To be deficient; to fail.