gale

¹

[geyl]

noun

1. a very strong wind.

2. Meteorology.,  a wind of 32–63 miles per hour (14–28 meters per second).

3. a noisy outburst.

   a gale of laughter filled the room.

   Synonyms: gust, fit, outbreak, eruption, burst

4. Archaic.,  a gentle breeze.

gale

²

[geyl]

noun

1. sweet gale.

Gale

³

[geyl]

noun

1. Zona 1874–1938, U.S. novelist, short-story writer, playwright, and poet.

2. a female or male given name.

gale

¹

/ ɡeɪl /

noun

1. a strong wind, specifically one of force seven to ten on the Beaufort scale or from 45 to 90 kilometres per hour

2. (often plural) a loud outburst, esp of laughter

3. archaic,  a gentle breeze

gale

²

/ ɡeɪl /

noun

1. short for sweet gale

Word History and Origins

Origin of gale¹

First recorded in 1540–50; perhaps from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian dialect geil “uproar, unrest, boiling”

Origin of gale²

before 1000; Middle English gail, Old English gagel; cognate with German Gagel

Word History and Origins

Origin of gale¹

C16: of unknown origin

Origin of gale²

Old English gagel; related to Middle Low German gagel

Example Sentences

In the wake of Storm Benjamin, the UK will come under the influence of a brisk northerly wind, which could reach gale force at times along eastern counties on Saturday.

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It was a bitterly cold, windy day, and smaller boats had been banned from going out, but this trawler was deemed sturdy enough to withstand the gales.

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There is also the threat of gales around Irish Sea coasts.

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Winds will also strengthen during midweek, particularly in the north of the UK with the chance of gales in northern Scotland by Thursday.

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Winds will strengthen too, especially for south-west England where coastal gales are likely to develop.

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Related Words

• cyclone 
• hurricane 
• monsoon 
• squall 
• tornado 
• wind 
• windstorm