a pledge or pawn, given by way of security.

GAGZ, a challenge to combat; that is, a gauntlet, glove, cap, or the like, cast on the ground by the challenger, and taken up by the accepter of the challenge.

GAGGE, in nautical language, the depth of water a vessel draws, i.e. the number of feet she sinks in the water. In a different sense, when a ship is to windward of another, she is said to have the weather-gage of such vessel.

among letter-founders, a piece of hard wood variously notched, used to adjust the dimensions, slopes, &c., of the different sorts of letters. In joinery it denotes an instrument to strike a line parallel to the straight side of a board. *Sliding-gage*, among mathematical-instrument makers, a tool for measuring and setting off distances.

The term *gage*, implying *measure*, as of depth, height, force, quantity, &c., is frequently used in composition to denote particular kinds of instruments; as sea-gage, tide-gage, wind-gage, rain-gage, &c., &c.