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

Isabel's old house creaked and rattled and groaned like a ship in a whole gale, and the wind sent great waves of rain along the veranda.

From Ancestors A Novel by Atherton, Gertrude Franklin Horn

The wind was now blowing a whole gale and the masts of the ship were bending like whips.

From Sir Henry Morgan, Buccaneer A Romance of the Spanish Main by Crawford, Will

An hour or more before dark the wind increased, and was blowing a whole gale.

From 'Murphy' A Message to Dog Lovers by Gambier-Parry, Ernest

The slope became steeper, the ice harder, the half gale became a whole gale, and the delay between each step seemed interminable.

From Above the Snow Line by Dent, Clinton Thomas