noun (n)

• a measure or standard used for comparison(noun.communication)

  Example:
  On what kind of yardstick is he basing his judgment?.
  

  source: wordnet30
• a ruler or tape that is three feet long(noun.artifact)

  Synonym:
  yard measure
  

  source: wordnet30
• A stick three feet, or a yard, in length, used as a measure of cloth, etc.(noun)

  source: webster1913