*boning*

n. [ Senses 1 and 2 fr. 1st Bone, sense 3 fr. 3d Bone. ] 1. The clearing of bones from fish or meat. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The manuring of land with bones. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A method of leveling a line or surface by sighting along the tops of two or more straight edges, or a range of properly spaced poles. See 3d Bone, v. t. [ 1913 Webster ]