different between caliber vs gunnery

English

Alternative forms

• calibre (more common form in UK etc)

Etymology

From French calibre (“bore of a gun, size, capacity (literally, and figuratively), also weight”), from Italian calibro.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?kæl.?.b?(?)/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?kæl.?.b?/
• Hyphenation: cal?i?bre

Noun

caliber (countable and uncountable, plural calibers) (British spelling, Australia, Canada, New Zealand)

1. Diameter of the bore of a firearm, typically measured between opposite lands.
2. The diameter of round or cylindrical body, as of a bullet, a projectile, or a column.
3. A nominal name for a cartridge type, which may not exactly indicate its true size and may include other measurements such as cartridge length or black powder capacity. Eg 7.62×39 or 38.40.
4. Unit of measure used to express the length of the bore of a weapon. The number of calibres is determined by dividing the length of the bore of the weapon, from the breech face of the tube to the muzzle, by the diameter of its bore. A gun tube the bore of which is 40 feet (480 inches) long and 12 inches in diameter is said to be 40 calibers long.
5. (figuratively) Relative size, importance, magnitude.
6. (figuratively) Capacity or compass of mind.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Burke to this entry?)

7. (dated) Degree of importance or station in society.

Related terms

• calibrate
• calibration
• calipers

Translations

References

• caliber in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• caliber in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

References

The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Clarendon Press, 1989.

Anagrams

• calibre

English

Etymology

gun +? -ery

Noun

gunnery (usually uncountable, plural gunneries)

1. (uncountable) The science of guns and gunfire including aspects of bullet flight and impact.
2. (uncountable) The design and manufacture of guns, particularly those of a large caliber.
3. (uncountable) The firing of guns
   • 1920, Wilfred Owen, "Exposure" in Poems, London: Chatto & Windus, p. 18, [1]

     Northward incessantly, the flickering gunnery rumbles, / Far off, like a dull rumour of some other war.

   • 1973, Jaroslav Hašek, The Good Soldier Švejk, translated by Cecil Parrott, London: William Heinemann, Chapter 5, p. 438,

     The 12th march company telephoned claiming that someone in the office had heard that they were waiting to do some shooting practice at moveable targets and that they would only leave after gunnery practice under front conditions.

4. (countable) A place where guns are tested, or where people are trained in their use

Translations

See also

• artillery