Etymology From Middle English gauge, gaugen, from Anglo-Norman, Old Northern French gauger (compare Modern French jauger from Old French jaugier), from gauge (“gauging rod”), from Frankish *galgā (“measuring rod, pole”), from Proto-Germanic *galgô (“pole, stake, cross”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰalgʰ-, *ǵʰalg- (“perch, long switch”). Cognate with Old High German galgo, Old Frisian galga, Old English ġealga (“cross-beam, gallows”), Old Norse galgi (“cross-beam, gallows”), Old Norse gelgja (“pole, perch”). Doublet of gallows.
A measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard
1780, Edmund Burke, speech at The Guildhall, in Bristol the gauge and dimensions of misery, depression, and contempt
The record of philosophy vis-à-vis silence is generally dismal, as good a gauge as any to its overall failure.2008 Spring/Summer, John Zerzan, “Silence”, in Green Anarchy, number 25:
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An act of measuring.
3
An estimate.
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Any instrument for ascertaining or regulating the level, state, dimensions or forms of things
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A thickness of sheet metal or wire designated by any of several numbering schemes, with lower numbers indicating larger size.
It was Locke who concisely won the argument for a standardised gauge of 4ft 8½ inches over Brunel's 7ft 0 ¼in preference. […] Today, over 60% of the world's railways use that gauge.2023 August 23, David E Norris, “Joseph Locke: a railway injustice...”, in RAIL, number 990, page 57:
The quantity of plaster of Paris used with common plaster to make it set more quickly.
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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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Engineering, Firearms, Government, Military, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Politics, Tools, War, Weaponry A unit of measurement which describes how many spheres of bore diameter of a shotgun can be had from one pound of lead; 12 gauge is roughly equivalent to .75 caliber.
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US, Broadly, Slang A shotgun (synecdoche for 12 gauge shotgun, the most common chambering for combat and hunting shotguns).
I'm talking about cocking a gauge in between your eyes.1992, “A Nigga Witta Gun”, in The Chronic, performed by Dr. Dre, Death Row Records:
I'm tryin to find ways to cope / But I ain't fuckin' round with the gauge or a rope1996, “Illusions”, in Cypress Hill III: Temples of Boom, performed by Cypress Hill:
1 more example
It happens everyday don't make me grab the gauge / Dangerously I play, I best to kill with the gauge / And put ya body in the back of that grey Chevrolet2000, “Grab The Gauge”, in Underground Vol. 3: Kings of Memphis, performed by Three 6 Mafia:
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A tunnel-like ear piercing consisting of a hollow ring embedded in the lobe.
Jenni didn't really look as though she fit in with the rest of the girls here, she had a nose piercing and angel bites, her long curly dark brown hair with red highlights was pulled back exposing gauges and many other ear piercings and a tattoo […]2013, Destiny Patterson, Samantha Beckworth, Jennifer Proctor, Arose, page 150:
[…] smoking gauge was a new phenomenon to Himes: “When I looked up after turning the corner, all the grimy facades seemed to be a blaze of bright colors, gold, scarlet, blue, green, like an array of peacocks. […]1971, Black Creation, volumes 3-6, page 53:
When we settled, he said, “You've been smoking gauge, haven't you?”2000, Cynthia Palmer, Michael Horowitz, Sisters of the Extreme:
Etymology From Middle English gauge, gaugen, from Anglo-Norman, Old Northern French gauger (compare Modern French jauger from Old French jaugier), from gauge (“gauging rod”), from Frankish *galgā (“measuring rod, pole”), from Proto-Germanic *galgô (“pole, stake, cross”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰalgʰ-, *ǵʰalg- (“perch, long switch”). Cognate with Old High German galgo, Old Frisian galga, Old English ġealga (“cross-beam, gallows”), Old Norse galgi (“cross-beam, gallows”), Old Norse gelgja (“pole, perch”). Doublet of gallows.
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To measure or determine with a gauge; to measure the capacity of.
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To estimate.
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To appraise the character or ability of; to judge of.
You shall not gauge me / By what we do to-night.c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
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To draw into equidistant gathers by running a thread through it.
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To mix (a quantity of ordinary plaster) with a quantity of plaster of Paris.
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To chip, hew or polish (stones, bricks, etc) to a standard size and/or shape.