Calliper
/ˈkæl.ɪ.pər/noun
A measuring instrument with two hinged legs used to measure thickness or distance.
Did you know?Calliper is an old spelling variant of caliper, and the word’s history is tangled with the language of measurement and careful shaping rather than any occult origin.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
English
calliper
“a spelling variant used for a measuring instrument with curved legs”
16th Century
French
calibre
“a measure of diameter or size”
16th Century
Italian
calibro
“a gauge or measure, especially for the diameter of a gun barrel”
Arabic
Arabic
qālib
“a mold or template”
Greek
Greek
khalyps
“a covering or sheath”