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

Forecasters said on Thursday showers would turn increasingly to snow, with locally gale force northerly winds setting in.

From BBC

An icy gale blew incessantly in concert with a torrential deluge.

From Los Angeles Times

The strongest winds will be around Irish Sea coasts and up to the north-west of Scotland where severe gales are possible later on Tuesday.

From BBC

Strong winds will also accompany the heavy rain, with gales possible around coasts and over high ground.

From BBC

“History” is a major player in this breathless narrative, as in “gales of history,” “maelstrom of history,” “winds of history,” “tide of history” and the “frenetic pace of history”—all within a few dozen pages.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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