The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Rule \Rule\, n. [OE. reule, riule, OF. riule, reule, F.
r['e]gle, fr. L. regula a ruler, rule, model, fr. regere,
rectum, to lead straight, to direct. See Right, a., and cf.
Regular.]
1. That which is prescribed or laid down as a guide for
conduct or action; a governing direction for a specific
purpose; an authoritative enactment; a regulation; a
prescription; a precept; as, the rules of various
societies; the rules governing a school; a rule of
etiquette or propriety; the rules of cricket.
[1913 Webster]
We profess to have embraced a religion which
contains the most exact rules for the government of
our lives. --Tillotson.
[1913 Webster]
2. Hence:
(a) Uniform or established course of things.
[1913 Webster]
'T is against the rule of nature. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
(b) Systematic method or practice; as, my ule is to rise
at six o'clock.
(c) Ordibary course of procedure; usual way; comon state
or condition of things; as, it is a rule to which
there are many exeptions.
(d) Conduct in general; behavior. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
This uncivil rule; she shall know of it. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. The act of ruling; administration of law; government;
empire; authority; control.
[1913 Webster]
Obey them that have the rule over you. --Heb. xiii.
17.
[1913 Webster]
His stern rule the groaning land obeyed. --Pope.
[1913 Webster]
4. (Law) An order regulating the practice of the courts, or
an order made between parties to an action or a suit.
--Wharton.
[1913 Webster]
5. (Math.) A determinate method prescribed for performing any
operation and producing a certain result; as, a rule for
extracting the cube root.
[1913 Webster]
6. (Gram.) A general principle concerning the formation or
use of words, or a concise statement thereof; thus, it is
a rule in England, that s or es, added to a noun in the
singular number, forms the plural of that noun; but "man"
forms its plural "men", and is an exception to the rule.
[1913 Webster]
7.
(a) A straight strip of wood, metal, or the like, which
serves as a guide in drawing a straight line; a ruler.
(b) A measuring instrument consisting of a graduated bar
of wood, ivory, metal, or the like, which is usually
marked so as to show inches and fractions of an inch,
and jointed so that it may be folded compactly.
[1913 Webster]
A judicious artist will use his eye, but he will
trust only to his rule. --South.
[1913 Webster]
8. (Print.)
(a) A thin plate of metal (usually brass) of the same
height as the type, and used for printing lines, as
between columns on the same page, or in tabular work.
(b) A composing rule. See under Conposing.
[1913 Webster]
As a rule, as a general thing; in the main; usually; as, he
behaves well, as a rule.
Board rule, Caliber rule, etc. See under Board,
Caliber, etc.
Rule joint, a knuckle joint having shoulders that abut when
the connected pieces come in line with each other, and
thus permit folding in one direction only.
Rule of the road (Law), any of the various regulations
imposed upon travelers by land or water for their mutual
convenience or safety. In the United States it is a rule
of the road that land travelers passing in opposite
directions shall turn out each to his own right, and
generally that overtaking persons or vehicles shall turn
out to the left; in England the rule for vehicles (but not
for pedestrians) is the opposite of this.
Rule of three (Arith.), that rule which directs, when three
terms are given, how to find a fourth, which shall have
the same ratio to the third term as the second has to the
first; proportion. See Proportion, 5
(b) .
Rule of thumb, any rude process or operation, like that of
using the thumb as a rule in measuring; hence, judgment
and practical experience as distinguished from scientific
knowledge.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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]