carpenter's rule meaning

• Noun: carpenter's rule
  1. A rule used by a carpenter

  Derived forms: carpenter's rules

  Type of: rule, ruler

• carpenter:    Noun: carpenter&nb ...
• as a rule:    Usually; [American ...
• rule:    Noun: rule &n ...

Examples

1. he arouse joint by joint, as a carpenter's rule opens, and beat the dust from his clothes.