metalling

verb

1. (form-of, gerund, participle, present)present participle and gerund of metal

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)A road surface, especially one of gravel (but sometimes with reference to macadam, tarmacadam, or asphalt concrete).

   “And I did do jobs like collecting acorns which we fed to the pigs, mixed with other things. And I also picked stones off the fields which was done in those times, stones as metalling for the roads.”

   “Almora, April 1 — Almora District Magistrate DS Garbyal has expressed his annoyance at the poor quality of work executed by the personnel of the Public Works Department (PWD) in the district. […] In a letter addressed to the Chief Engineer of the PWD, Garbyal highlighted defects in the roads, culverts and drains that were built during the last financial year. He said the metalling of the roads had started to come off and the potholes marking the roads were causing accidents.”

2. (countable, uncountable)The process or an instance of installing such a surface; paving.

   “One of the most important tasks was the metalling of the roads, and the dumping of metal beside them in parts where it was impossible to lay it, in order that work might commence with the assault. The surface of the roads was good, but only because the Division had been holding a front so wide, which made the traffic upon them relatively light.”

   “[Footnote 32] According to the French map of the Levant, laid in 1925, before the metalling of the roads.”

   “The Roman street had seven successive metallings. The latest metallings were contemporary with the tile works.”