gauge

n. [ Written also gage. ] 1. A measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard. [ 1913 Webster ]

This plate must be a gauge to file your worm and groove to equal breadth by. Moxon. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is not in our hands any fixed gauge of minds. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Measure; dimensions; estimate. [ 1913 Webster ]

The gauge and dimensions of misery, depression, and contempt. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The distance between the rails of a railway. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Plastering) The quantity of plaster of Paris used with common plaster to accelerate its setting. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]