caliber Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a degree or grade of excellence or worth
    quality; calibre.
    • the quality of students has risen
    • an executive of low caliber
  2. noun diameter of a tube or gun barrel
    bore; gauge; calibre.

WordNet

Cal"i*ber, Cal"ibre noun (Also<
  • Caliber
  • Calibre
)
Etymology
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.
Definitions
  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.

Webster 1913