The grandmother A0 and childeren. Successive paper sizes in the series A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, and so forth, are defined by halving the preceding paper size along the larger dimension. Each format is cut into two equal pieces. In other words, the height of A1 is the width of A0 and the width of A1 is half the height of A0.
The word is now more generally used in a metaphorical sense, to indicate a sphere of authority, experience, activity, study, or interest. A bailiwick (German: âBalleiâ) was also the territorial division of the Teutonic Order. Here, various âKomtur(en)â formed a Ballei province.
But this is not the origin of the rule of thumb.. The phrase rule of thumb comes from woodworkers using the length of their thumbs for measuring instead of using rulers, and it has been in use at least since the 1600s, long before the supposed law about wife-beating.