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foot rule

foot rule

1 2.0
A ruler one foot long used to measure length
  • noun
  • /fʊt ruːl/
translation icon : regla de un pie
  • For my DIY project, I bought a foot rule to help me measure the wood accurately.

Examples

  • She measured the paper with a foot rule.

  • During the exam, each student was provided with a foot rule for geometry problems.

  • She found an old wooden foot rule in her grandfather's toolbox.

  • The carpenter used a foot rule to check the length of the board.

  • The carpenter always carries a foot rule in his toolbox.

  • The carpenter measured the length of the table using a foot rule to ensure accuracy.

  • To construct the model, she used a foot rule for precise measurements of each piece.

Synonyms

ruler
vsfoot rule
29 1.0

A flat stick with marks used to draw straight lines and measure length

is the twelve inch long measuring version not any other length

How Long

meterstick
  • US
2.9
yardstick
3 3.2
foot rule
1 2.0

Surface Forms

foot rule singular
foot rules plural

Morphology

foot + rule

The noun combines 'foot' (a unit of length) with 'rule' (a measuring tool), so the meaning 'a ruler one foot long' is directly and compositionally derivable from its parts. This straightforward compounding pattern is common across languages and follows normal English noun‑noun composition, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand it.

Etymology

Foot rule comes from a small measuring stick that is exactly one foot, which is 12 inches long. The name shows the rule was literally one foot long, so it means 'a ruler that is one foot long'.