Narrow gauge

Narrow gauge
Narrow Nar"row (n[a^]r"r[-o]), a. [Compar. {Narrower} (n[a^]r"r[-o]*[~e]r); superl. {Narrowest}.] [OE. narwe, naru, AS. nearu; akin to OS. naru, naro.] 1. Of little breadth; not wide or broad; having little distance from side to side; as, a narrow board; a narrow street; a narrow hem. [1913 Webster]

Hath passed in safety through the narrow seas. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. Of little extent; very limited; circumscribed. [1913 Webster]

The Jews were but a small nation, and confined to a narrow compass in the world. --Bp. Wilkins. [1913 Webster]

3. Having but a little margin; having barely sufficient space, time, or number, etc.; close; near[5]; -- with special reference to some peril or misfortune; as, a narrow shot; a narrow escape; a narrow miss; a narrow majority. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

4. Limited as to means; straitened; pinching; as, narrow circumstances. [1913 Webster]

5. Contracted; of limited scope; illiberal; bigoted; as, a narrow mind; narrow views. ``A narrow understanding.'' --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

6. Parsimonious; niggardly; covetous; selfish. [1913 Webster]

A very narrow and stinted charity. --Smalridge. [1913 Webster]

7. Scrutinizing in detail; close; accurate; exact. [1913 Webster]

But first with narrow search I must walk round This garden, and no corner leave unspied. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

8. (Phon.) Formed (as a vowel) by a close position of some part of the tongue in relation to the palate; or (according to Bell) by a tense condition of the pharynx; -- distinguished from wide; as [=e] ([=e]ve) and [=oo] (f[=oo]d), etc., from [i^] ([i^]ll) and [oo^] (f[oo^]t), etc. See Guide to Pronunciation, [sect]13. [1913 Webster]

Note: Narrow is not unfrequently prefixed to words, especially to participles and adjectives, forming compounds of obvious signification; as, narrow-bordered, narrow-brimmed, narrow-breasted, narrow-edged, narrow-faced, narrow-headed, narrow-leaved, narrow-pointed, narrow-souled, narrow-sphered, etc. [1913 Webster]

{Narrow gauge}. (Railroad) See Note under {Gauge}, n., 6. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • narrow gauge — n. 1. a width, between the rails of a railroad, less than standard (56.5 in, or 143.5 cm) ☆ 2. a narrow gauge railroad or car narrow gauge adj. narrow gauged * * * …   Universalium

  • narrow gauge — n. 1. a width, between the rails of a railroad, less than standard (56.5 in, or 143.5 cm) ☆ 2. a narrow gauge railroad or car narrow gauge adj. narrow gauged …   English World dictionary

  • narrow gauge. — narrow gauge; esp. in technical use, narrow gage, adj. narrow gauged; esp. in technical use, narrow gaged, adj. See under gauge (def. 13). [1835 45] * * * …   Universalium

  • narrow gauge. — narrow gauge; esp. in technical use, narrow gage, adj. narrow gauged; esp. in technical use, narrow gaged, adj. See under gauge (def. 13). [1835 45] …   Useful english dictionary

  • narrow gauge — narrow .gauge n [U and C] a size of railway track of less than standard width ▪ a narrow gauge railway …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • narrow-gauge — broad or narrow gauge In railway construction, respectively greater or less than standard gauge, in Britain 1.435 metres (561/2 inches) • • • Main Entry: ↑gauge narrˈow gaugeˈ adjective (of a railway) less than 4ft 81/2in (about 1.4m) in gauge •… …   Useful english dictionary

  • narrow-gauge — See narrow gauge. * * * …   Universalium

  • narrow-gauge — adj. Narrow gauge is used with these nouns: ↑railway, ↑track …   Collocations dictionary

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  • Narrow gauge railways in Saxony — The narrow gauge railways in Saxony was once the largest single operator narrow gauge railway network in Germany. At its peak shortly after World War I the network had more than 500 km (311 mi) of tracks. At first, it was primarily… …   Wikipedia

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