from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Gauge \Gauge\, n. [Written also gage.]
1. A measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to
determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard.
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This plate must be a gauge to file your worm and
groove to equal breadth by. --Moxon.
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There is not in our hands any fixed gauge of minds.
--I. Taylor.
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2. Measure; dimensions; estimate.
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The gauge and dimensions of misery, depression, and
contempt. --Burke.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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6. The distance between the rails of a railway.
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Note: 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.
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7. (Plastering) The quantity of plaster of Paris used with
common plaster to accelerate its setting.
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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.
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{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}.
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