in our ancient customs, signifies a pledge or pawn, given by way of security. If the gage perish, the person who received it is not answerable for it, except in the case of extreme negligence. GAGE was also used to signify a challenge to combat. In this sense it was a pledge, which the accuser or challenger cast on the ground, and the other took up as accepting the challenge. The gage was usually a glove, gauntlet, chaperoon, or the like.

in nautical language. When one ship is to windward of another, she is said to have the weather-gage of such ship. The number of feet that a vessel sinks in the water is likewise called the ship's gage; and this is found by driving a nail into a pike near the end, and putting it down beside the rudder till the nail catch hold under it; then as many feet as the pike is under the water is the ship's gage.

amongst letter-founders, is a piece of box, or other hard wood, variously notched, the use of which is to adjust the dimensions, slopes, &c. of the different sorts of letters.

in joinery, is an instrument made to strike a line truly parallel to the straight side of any board or piece of stuff.

Sliding-Gage, a tool used by the mathematical-instrument makers for measuring and setting off distances.

Sea-Gage, an instrument invented by Dr Hales and Dr Desaguliers for finding the depth of the sea.

Bucket Sea-Gage, an instrument contrived by Dr Hales to find the different degrees of coolness and saltness of the sea at different depths.

Aquoe-mercurial Gage is the name of an apparatus contrived by Dr Hales, and applied in various forms to the branches of trees, for the purpose of determining the force with which they imbibe moisture.

Tide-Gage is the name of an instrument used for determining the height of the tides.

Wind-Gage is an instrument for measuring the force of the wind upon any given surface. See Meteorology.