subgauge

Adjective

subgauge (comparative more subgauge, superlative most subgauge)

1. Smaller in bore diameter than the standard gauge specified; most often describing a shotgun with a bore smaller than 12-gauge.
   • Features: A gorgeous subgauge for the clays crowd with a hand-polished, coin-finished receiver with full-cover engraving in an organic floral design and with gold inlays and game birds;2022 October 11, Graham Moore, Shooter’s Bible: The World's Bestselling Firearms Reference, 114 edition, Skyhorse, page 122
2. Having a dimension or capacity smaller than a standard gauge.
   • Balls for bearings generally have gauge intervals of 1 μm and subgauges of 0.2 μm.2000, T. A. Stolarski, S. Tobe, Rolling Contacts, Wiley, page 357
3. Describes a railway track, narrower in gauge than the standard gauge.
   • An amount paid for a ride on a miniature or subgauge railway furnishing point to point transportation service for public convenience is not considered an amount paid for admission to a "place" within the meaning of sec. 1700(a) of the 1939 Code, but rather a charge for transportation.1958 February, Index-Digest Supplement (Publication; 401), Internal Revenue, page 352