gauge English · revision 1156

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɡeɪd͡ʒ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''gauge'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|xno|gauge]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from Old North French ''gauger'' “to measure, calibrate”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''gauge'' “gauging rod”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) of Germanic origin,^(AHD)^(RHWU) perhaps [[frk|*galgo|t=rod, pole]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) related to [[gallows]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Barnhart notes that the spellings ''gauge'' and ''gage'' have existed side by side since Middle English, but in American English ''gage'' is found only in technical uses.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A fixed standard of measure (1357 in the OED; as a surname about 1332);^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) the verb, to measure the contents of a cask, is from 1353.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb meant to measure exactly from the 15th century,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and figuratively to judge or appraise from the 1580s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The noun meant a measuring instrument from the 1670s,^(Etymonline) and the distance between the rails of a railway from 1841.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) It also names the bore of a shotgun and the thickness of sheet metal or wire.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1332 – in the surname ''Gageman''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1353 – verb, to measure a cask's contents.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1357 – a standard of measure.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1583 – verb, to judge a person.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1670s – a measuring instrument.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1841 – the distance between railway rails.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A standard or scale of [[measurement]]; a standard dimension, quantity or capacity.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An [[instrument]] for measuring or testing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A means of estimating or judging; a test.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The distance between the rails of a [[railroad]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The inner diameter of a [[shotgun]] barrel, given as the number of fitting lead balls that weigh a pound.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The thickness of sheet metal or the diameter of [[wire]].^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To measure precisely; to find the capacity or contents of.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To estimate, evaluate or judge.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To make something conform to a standard measurement.^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+ # To mix plaster in fixed proportions, or to rub bricks or stones to size.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[gaugeable]]

+ * [[gaugeably]]

+ * [[misgauge]]

+ * [[regauge]]

+ * [[ungauged]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gage]]

+ * [[gallows]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House lists ''evaluate'', ''assess'', ''value'' and ''calculate'' as synonyms of the verb in its sense of appraising.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}