Meaning

noun the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)

noun the property resulting from being one of a series of graduated measurements (as of clothing)

noun any glutinous material used to fill pores in surfaces or to stiffen fabrics

originAttested since the 14th century, originally meant a “law or regulation that determines the amount to be paid”, from Middle English syse, sise (“regulation, control, limit”), from Old French cise, sise, aphetism of assise (“assize”), from the verb asseoir (“to sit down”), from Latin assidēre, composed of ad- (“to, towards, at”) + sedeō (“sit; settle down”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0