The wider distance at which the rails are laid on some railways, involving a corresponding width of carriage. See GAUGE. Often attrib. (also fig.). Hence Broad-gauged a.
(The broad gauge of the Great Western Railway, in England, is 7 feet, as against the ordinary gauge of 4 ft. 81/2 in.)
1864. Times, 24 Dec., 8/6. The smash at Slough … was occasioned by the omission of the switchman to ‘open the points’ when a through broad-gauge train was due. Ibid. (1865), 25 Jan. If the broad gauge may be unnecessarily wide the narrow gauge is too narrow.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Org., iv. 102. We wish to maintain one broad-gauge line of refining education.
1881. Chicago Times, 4 June. Everything broad-gauged and in liberal proportions.
