Literary notes about Caliber (AI summary)
The word "caliber" in literature serves multiple roles, acting both as a precise measure of physical attributes and as a metaphor for quality or ability. In some passages, it is used literally to denote the physical dimensions of artillery and firearms—describing, for instance, a .45-caliber pistol or a ten-inch naval gun [1], [2]—and extending to measurements of missile sizes, gun ranges, and even the design of machinery [3], [4], [5]. In a more figurative sense, "caliber" is also employed to evaluate the worth and competence of individuals, suggesting that a person may or may not possess the necessary attributes or strength to achieve a particular task [6], [7]. Additionally, the term finds application in areas as diverse as anatomical descriptions and distinctions in performance, illustrating the adaptability of "caliber" as both a measurement and an appraisal of character or quality [8], [9].
- The pistol being a .45-caliber, I thought surely I would find him at work on the clue in Forty-fifth Street.
— from Waifs and StraysPart 1 by O. Henry - A 10-inch caliber naval gun on a railroad mount.
— from Winning a Cause: World War Stories by John G. (John Gilbert) Thompson - The guns range from 17.7-inch caliber down to 8.2-inch.
— from Kelly Miller's History of the World War for Human Rights by Kelly Miller - The caliber of the missiles. Millimeters.
— from Gunshot Roentgenograms
A Collection of Roentgenograms Taken in Constantinople During the Turko-Balkan War, 1912-1913, Illustrating Some Gunshot Wounds in the Turkish Army by Clyde S. (Clyde Sinclair) Ford - A description of the only known gun is as follows: The round barrel with the rib on top is rifled and is caliber .490.
— from Southern Derringers of the Mississippi Valley by Turner Kirkland - “Young man, I figgered you was some swift, an' sure to make your mark on this river; but I reckon I missed your real caliber.
— from The Lone Star Ranger: A Romance of the Border by Zane Grey - He was absolutely dependent upon Doctor Forester, and he was not of the caliber to act rashly, go bravely out and face the hostile world.
— from Deering of Deal; Or, The Spirit of the School by Latta Griswold - When the healthy side is closed in this manner the breathing through the affected side will demonstrate a decreased caliber or an obstruction.
— from Special Report on Diseases of the Horse by W. H. (William Heyser) Harbaugh - So, too, with voices of different caliber, the coloratura, lyric and dramatic.
— from Vocal Mastery
Talks with Master Singers and Teachers, Comprising Interviews with Caruso, Farrar, Maurel, Lehmann, and Others by Harriette Brower