Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Calibre
{
, Cal′i-ber
,Cal′ibre
}Noun.
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
The
caliber
of empty tubes. Reid.
A battery composed of three guns of small
caliber
. Prescott.
☞ 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.