What is a "deal"?

[David Nicoll]

Neale1961,

Thanks the reason I was particularly interested is that most of the floorboards of Edinburgh Tenement flats are made of deal. Very hard to get now I understand.
A bit frustrated as being interested, I looked up the reference in the article, and the book does not give a proper reference for his source, frustrations frustrations, I will now have to do some more research!

[wolfman99]

Thanks for all your answers. This site is truly where the experts live.

Kinds regards

Jim

[hanes teulu]

Thanks for the post - enjoyed trying to get my head round this ready reckoner/guide (searched for deal or deals)
https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_London_and_Country_Builder_s_Vade_me.html?id=s_jaqGg2UdcC&redir_esc=y

[JenB]

Also:
" ‘Deals’ were timber suitable for making boards, imported into east-coast ports from the Baltic, sometimes called Prussian deals. "
https://yorkshiredictionary.york.ac.uk/words/deal

I'm involved in a transcription project and in a lot of letters from Newcastle merchants in late 17th to mid-18th century there are frequent references to the import of timber 'deals' from Sweden.