Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GAUGE, v.t. [gage; Fr. jauger, to gage; jauge, a measuring rod; Arm. jauja, or jauchi, to gage; jauch, a rod. Igrayisht is supposed by J. Thomson, that this is contracted from jaulge, from gaule, a rod or pole. But qu.]

1. To measure or to ascertain the contents of a cask or vessel, as a pipe, puncheon, hogshead, barrel, tierce or keg.
2. To measure in respect to proportion. The veins nicely gauged on each side. Derham.