foot rule

American  

noun

1. a ruler one foot (30.48 centimeters) in length.

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foot rule British  

noun

1. a rigid measure, one foot in length

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Etymology

Origin of foot rule

First recorded in 1720–30

Example Sentences

"There will be occasions were the 20 foot rule would be unconstitutional, but I'm not sure that would make the statute unconstitutional on its face," he says.

From US News • Jan. 11, 2016

In measuring cloth, the distance from the elbow to the fingers is employed as we would use a foot rule or a yardstick.

From The World and Its People: Book VII Views in Africa by Badlam, Anna B.

They would, for instance, call a two foot rule one and a half or two and a half feet long.

From Popular Education For the use of Parents and Teachers, and for Young Persons of Both Sexes by Mayhew, Ira

Look well at the two Pointers, because the distance between them, five degrees, is the most convenient "foot rule" for the sky that you will ever find.

From Earth and Sky Every Child Should Know Easy studies of the earth and the stars for any time and place by Rogers, Julia Ellen

We know that a real material foot rule cannot be applied to an imaginary tree.

From An Introduction to Philosophy by Fullerton, George Stuart