Dictionary

surbed en · VERB

Etymology

From sur- + bed.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To set (a stone) edgewise, in a position different from that which it had in the quarry.
   • Do they dip or lye in piano horizontis? Whether better surbedded, in work, or laid as they grew in the bed? 1728, John Houghton, A collection for the improvement of husbandry and trade, page 291:
   • It is a freestone, cutting in all directions; yet has something of a grain parallel with the horizon, and therefore should not be surbedded. 1836, Gilbert White, The natural history of Selborne, page 9:
   • 400mm wide X 200mm thick, bedded and jointed in 1:3:12 white cement:lime:sand mortar, all stones to be free of quarry sap and not laid surbedded. 1997, Derek Lovejoy Partnership, Spon's landscape handbook, page 165:

Forms