CALIBERS
Noun
calibers
plural of caliber
Anagrams
• calibres, slice bar
Source: Wiktionary
CALIBER
Cal"i*ber, Cal"ibre, n. Etym: [F. calibre, perh. fr. L. qualibra of
what pound, of what weight; hence, of what size, applied first to a
ball or bullet; cf. also Ar. qalib model, mold. Cf. Calipers,
Calivere.]
1. (Gunnery)
Definition: The diameter of the bore, as a cannon or other firearm, or of
any tube; or the weight or size of the projectile which a firearm
will carry; as, an 8 inch gun, a 12-pounder, a 44 caliber.
The caliber of empty tubes. Reid.
A battery composed of three guns of small caliber. Prescott.
Note: The caliber of firearms is expressed in various ways. Cannon
are often designated by the weight of a solid spherical shot that
will fit the bore; as, a 12-pounder; pieces of ordnance that project
shell or hollow shot are designated by the diameter of their bore;
as, a 12 inch mortar or a 14 inch shell gun; small arms are
designated by hundredths of an inch expressed decimally; as, a rifle
of .44 inch caliber.
2. The diameter of round or cylindrical body, as of a bullet or
column.
3. Fig.: Capacity or compass of mind. Burke. Caliber compasses. See
Calipers.
– Caliber rule, a gunner's calipers, an instrument having two
scales arranged to determine a ball's weight from its diameter, and
conversely.
– A ship's caliber, the weight of her armament.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition