yardstick
Meaning
a standard used for judging how good or successful something is
a measuring rod a yard long, typically divided into inches
Structure
Usage
profitability is not the only yardstick of a company's success.
she used her father's achievements as a yardstick for her own career.
the teacher used a wooden yardstick to draw a straight line on the board.
Etymology
The word 'yardstick' is a transparent compound from Old English roots, directly combining 'yard' and 'stick'. The term 'yard' originates from the Old English 'gyrd', meaning a rod or a measure of length, which itself is related to the Proto-Germanic gurdijō, likely connected to the notion of a straight rod. 'stick' comes from Old English 'sticca', meaning a peg or a slender piece of wood. The compound first emerged in its literal sense as a measuring rod exactly one yard in length. By the late 19th century, this concrete, standardized tool for measurement provided a powerful metaphor, leading to its modern abstract meaning as any established standard for comparison or judgment.
Analysis
yard (old english, 'gyrd', a unit of length or a rod); stick (old english, 'sticca', a slender piece of wood).