- Caliber
- Caliber Cal"i*ber, Calibre Cal"ibre, n. [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.
q[=a]lib model, mold. Cf. {Calipers}, {Calivere}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. (Gunnery) 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.
[1913 Webster]
The caliber of empty tubes. --Reid. [1913 Webster]
A battery composed of three guns of small caliber. --Prescott. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
2. The diameter of round or cylindrical body, as of a bullet or column. [1913 Webster]
3. Fig.: Capacity or compass of mind. --Burke. [1913 Webster]
{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. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.