The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word GAUGES
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
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More clues leading to the result GAUGES
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The cryptic/wordplay part
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What does GAUGES mean?
GAUGES noun- A measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard
- An act of measuring.
- An estimate.
- Any instrument for ascertaining or regulating the level, state, dimensions or forms of things
- A thickness of sheet metal or wire designated by any of several numbering schemes.
- The distance between the rails of a railway.
- A semi-norm; a function that assigns a non-negative size to all vectors in a vector space.
- The number of stitches per inch, centimetre, or other unit of distance.
- Relative positions of two or more vessels with reference to the wind.
- The depth to which a vessel sinks in the water.
- (plastering) The quantity of plaster of Paris used with common plaster to make it set more quickly.
- That part of a shingle, slate, or tile, which is exposed to the weather, when laid; also, one course of such shingles, slates, or tiles.
- A unit of measurement which describes how many spheres of bore diameter of a shotgun can be had from one pound of lead; 12 gauge is roughly equivalent to .75 caliber.
- (by extension) A shotgun (synecdoche for 12 gauge shotgun, the most common chambering for combat and hunting shotguns).
- A tunnel-like ear piercing consisting of a hollow ring embedded in the lobe.