whole gale

American  

noun

Meteorology.

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

---

whole gale British  

noun

1. a wind of force ten on the Beaufort scale

---

Etymology

Origin of whole gale

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

whole gale

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

From Time Magazine Archive

It was blowing a whole gale of wind from the north-west.

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

"The place it comes from must give out soon, unless a new trade wind's got fixed into a whole gale for this here ocean."

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

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)