cross sea

American  

noun

Oceanography, Nautical.

1. a sea with a choppy surface produced by the intersection of waves from different storms.

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Etymology

Origin of cross sea

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cross sea

The day was foggy, and a heavy, cross sea and lumpy waves kept the men miserably wet.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

My vessel was one of the four built by R—— and G—— of Glasgow, and was just strong enough to stand the heavy cross sea in the Gulf Stream.

From Sketches From My Life By The Late Admiral Hobart Pasha by Hobart-Hampden, Augustus Charles

It was true; the wind had backed to the north-east, and there was an angry little cross sea beginning to run over the long ocean swell.

From Doctor Claudius, A True Story by Crawford, F. Marion (Francis Marion)

It was a cross sea, for although the wind now blew nearly in their teeth, it had until the last half hour been from the west, and the waves were rolling in from the Atlantic.

From In Freedom's Cause : a Story of Wallace and Bruce by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)

Driving in the dense and devious thoroughfares was like sailing on a cross sea outside a difficult headland.

From The Christian A Story by Caine, Hall, Sir