whole gale

American  

noun

Meteorology.

1. a wind of 55–63 miles per hour (24–28 meters per second).

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whole gale British  

noun

1. a wind of force ten on the Beaufort scale

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Etymology

Origin of whole gale

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

The storm warnings that flew Lake Michigan's length changed that night into "whole gale" warnings.

From Time Magazine Archive

This whole gale of thought was blowing over Garlock's receptors like a Great Plains wind over miles-wide fields of corn.

From The Galaxy Primes by Smith, E. E. (Edward Elmer)

Sunday, the 15th February, dawned dark and gloomy, the wind blowing nearly a whole gale from the north, and the Alabama dashing along, with the wind well abeam, under reefed topsails.

From The Cruise of the Alabama and the Sumter by Semmes, Raphael

Once I felt the vessel rock; I cannot tell the hour, but it was long past midnight, and by the noise of the wind I guessed it was blowing a whole gale.

From The Frozen Pirate by Russell, W. Clark (William Clark)

During the whole gale the captain was on the watch, sounding the lead to see if she dragged, and keeping the steam up to be in readiness to put to sea at a moment’s notice.

From Man on the Ocean A Book about Boats and Ships by Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael)