gale

¹ American  

[geyl] / geɪl /

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.

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gale ² American  

[geyl] / geɪl /

noun

1. sweet gale.

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Gale ³ American  

[geyl] / geɪl /

noun

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

2. a female or male given name.

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gale ¹ British  

/ 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

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gale ² British  

/ ɡeɪl /

noun

1. short for sweet gale

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Etymology

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

Example Sentences

On Wednesday, gales were reported widely in Scotland with the strongest gusts affecting the islands.

From BBC

A deepening area of low pressure between Scotland and Iceland on Wednesday is bringing strong westerly winds, gales and even touching severe gales.

From BBC

At the weekend, a potentially nasty area of low pressure may sweep across the country, with gales most likely over Scotland.

From BBC

The force of Magic’s determination was like a hurricane gale.

From Literature

Wind speeds are higher up in the sky, and investment bankers are often distracted by whistling gales that blow against the tower.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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