caliber
UK: ˈkælɪbə | US: ˈkælɪbər
n. the diameter of a bullet or other projectile
n. the internal diameter of a gun barrel
n. the quality or ability of a person or thing
caliber = cali<measure> + ber<noun suffix>
- cali (from Latin calibre, meaning "measure" or "standard")
- ber (a suffix derived from Latin -bra, often used in nouns related to measurement)
Etymology Origin:
The word "caliber" traces back to the Arabic qālib (قَالِبٌ), meaning "mold" or "model," which entered Medieval Latin as calibre. It originally referred to the measurement standard for firearms, later expanding metaphorically to describe the quality or capacity of a person or object. The dual meaning reflects its journey from technical precision to abstract evaluation.
The pistol uses bullets of .45 caliber.
The artist’s work is of exceptional caliber.
Engineers measured the caliber of the cannon’s barrel.
His leadership caliber impressed the committee.
The rifle’s caliber determines its range and power.