Gauge , n. [Written also gage.]
1. A measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard.
This plate must be a gauge to file your worm and groove to equal breadth by.
Moxon. There is not
in our hands any fixed gauge of minds.
I. Taylor. 2. Measure; dimensions; estimate.
The gauge and dimensions of misery, depression, and contempt.
Burke. 3. (Mach. &
Manuf.) Any instrument for ascertaining
or regulating the dimensions or forms of things; a templet or
template; as, a button maker's gauge.
4. (Physics) Any instrument or apparatus for measuring the state of a phenomenon, or for ascertaining its numerical
elements at any moment; -- usually applied to some particular instrument; as, a rain gauge; a steam gauge.
5. (Naut.) (a)
Relative positions of two or more
vessels with reference to the wind; as, a vessel has the weather gauge of another when on the windward side of it, and the lee gauge when on the lee side of it. (b) The depth to
which a vessel sinks in the water.
Totten.
6. The distance between the rails of a
railway.
&fist; The
standard gauge of railroads in most countries is four feet, eight and one
half inches. Wide, or broad, gauge, in the United States, is six feet; in England, seven feet, and generally any gauge exceeding standard gauge. Any gauge less than standard gauge is now called narrow gauge. It varies from two feet to three feet six inches.
7. (Plastering) The quantity of plaster of Paris used with common plaster to accelerate its setting.
8. (Building) That part of
a shingle, slate, or tile, which is exposed to the
weather, when laid; also, one course of
such shingles, slates, or tiles.
Gauge of a carriage, car,
etc., the distance between the wheels; -- ordinarily called the track. -- Gauge cock, a stop cock used as a try cock for ascertaining the height of
the water level in a steam boiler. -- Gauge concussion
(Railroads), the jar
caused by a car-wheel flange striking the edge of the rail. -- Gauge glass, a glass tube
for a water
gauge. -- Gauge lathe, an automatic lathe for turning a
round object having an irregular profile, as a baluster
or chair round, to a templet or gauge. -- Gauge point, the diameter of a
cylinder whose altitude is one inch, and
contents equal to that of a unit of a given measure; -- a term used in gauging casks,
etc. -- Gauge rod,
a graduated rod, for measuring the capacity of barrels, casks,
etc. -- Gauge saw,
a handsaw, with a gauge
to regulate the depth of
cut. Knight. --
Gauge stuff, a stiff and compact plaster, used in making cornices, moldings,
etc., by means of a templet. -- Gauge wheel, a wheel at the forward end of a plow beam, to
determine the depth of the
furrow. -- Joiner's gauge, an instrument used to strike a line
parallel to the straight side of a board, etc. -- Printer's gauge, an instrument to regulate the length of the
page. -- Rain gauge, an instrument for measuring the quantity of rain at any given place. -- Salt gauge, or Brine gauge, an instrument or contrivance for indicating
the degree of saltness of water from
its specific gravity, as in the boilers of
ocean steamers. -- Sea
gauge, an instrument for finding the depth of the
sea. -- Siphon gauge, a glass siphon tube, partly filled with mercury, -- used to indicate pressure, as of steam, or the degree of
rarefaction produced in the receiver of an air pump or other
vacuum; a manometer. -- Sliding gauge.
(Mach.) (a) A templet or
pattern for gauging the commonly accepted
dimensions or shape of certain parts in general use, as screws, railway-car axles, etc. (b) A gauge used only for testing other similar gauges, and preserved as a
reference, to detect wear of the working gauges. (c) (Railroads) See
Note under Gauge, n.,
5. -- Star gauge
(Ordnance), an instrument for measuring the diameter of the bore of a cannon at any point of
its length. -- Steam gauge, an instrument for measuring the pressure of steam, as in a boiler. -- Tide gauge, an instrument for determining the height of
the tides. -- Vacuum
gauge, a species of barometer for determining the relative elasticities of the vapor
in the condenser of a steam engine and the air. -- Water gauge. (a) A contrivance for indicating
the height of a water surface, as in a steam boiler; as by
a gauge cock or glass. (b)
The height of the water
in the boiler. -- Wind gauge, an instrument for measuring the force of the
wind on any
given surface; an anemometer. -- Wire gauge, a gauge for
determining the diameter of wire or the thickness of sheet metal; also, a
standard of size. See under Wire.
Gauge (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gauged (?); p. pr. &
vb. n. Gauging (?)]
[OF. gaugier, F. jauger,
cf. OF. gauge gauge, measuring rod, F. jauge; of uncertain origin; perh. fr. an assumed L. qualificare to determine the qualities of a
thing (see Qualify); but cf. also F. jalon a measuring stake in surveying, and E. gallon.] [Written also gage.]
1. To measure or
determine with a gauge.
2. To measure or to
ascertain the contents or the capacity of, as of a pipe, barrel, or keg.
3. (Mech.)
To measure the dimensions of, or to test the accuracy of the form of, as of a part of a gunlock.
The vanes nicely gauged on each side.
Derham.
4. To draw into equidistant gathers by running a thread through it, as cloth or a garment.
5. To measure the capacity, character, or ability of; to estimate; to judge of.
You shall not gauge me
By what we do to-night.
Shak.
Hear it pronounced