Word Study
gale
CIDE DICTIONARY
gale, n. [Prob. of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. gal furious, Icel. galinn, cf. Icel. gala to sing, AS. galan to sing, Icel. galdr song, witchcraft, AS. galdor charm, sorcery, E. nightingale; also, Icel. gj gust of wind, gola breeze. Cf. Yell.].
- A strong current of air; a wind between a stiff breeze and a hurricane. The most violent gales are called
tempests . [1913 Webster]" Gales have a velocity of from about eighteen (“moderate”) to about eighty (“very heavy”) miles an our." Sir. W. S. Harris. [1913 Webster] - A moderate current of air; a breeze. [1913 Webster]"A little gale will soon disperse that cloud." [1913 Webster]"And winds of gentlest gale Arabian odors fanned
From their soft wings." [1913 Webster] - A state of excitement, passion, or hilarity. [1913 Webster]"The ladies, laughing heartily, were fast getting into what, in New England, is sometimes called a gale." [1913 Webster]
gale, v. i.
To sale, or sail fast. [1913 Webster]
gale, n. [OE. gal. See Gale wind.].
A song or story. Toone. [1913 Webster]
gale, v. i. [AS. galan. See 1st Gale.].
To sing. Court of Love. [1913 Webster]
gale, n. [AS. gagel, akin to D. gagel.].
A plant of the genus Myrica , growing in wet places, and strongly resembling the bayberry. The sweet gale (Myrica Gale ) is found both in Europe and in America. [1913 Webster]
gale, n. [Cf. Gabel.].
The payment of a rent or annuity. Mozley & W. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
gale, n.
1 a very strong wind, esp. (on the Beaufort scale) one of 32-54 m.p.h.
2 Naut. a storm.
3 an outburst, esp. of laughter.
1 a very strong wind, esp. (on the Beaufort scale) one of 32-54 m.p.h.
2 Naut. a storm.
3 an outburst, esp. of laughter.
gale, n. (in full sweet-gale) bog myrtle.
Etymology
OE gagel(le), MDu. gaghel
THESAURUS
gale
air, black squall, blast, blaze, blizzard, blow, breeze, burst, convulsion, cooling breeze, cyclone, equinoctial, eruption, explosion, fit, flare-up, gentle wind, gust, half a gale, heavy blow, howl, hurricane, ill wind, irruption, light air, light breeze, light wind, line squall, line storm, moderate breeze, ocean breeze, onshore breeze, outbreak, outburst, paroxysm, peal, roar, scream, sea breeze, seizure, shout, shriek, softblowing wind, spasm, squall, squall line, storm, storm wind, stormy winds, strong wind, tempest, tempestuous wind, thick squall, thundersquall, tornado, tropical cyclone, turbulence, typhoon, ugly wind, upheaval, violent blow, whirlwind, white squall, whole gale, williwaw, wind-shift line, windstorm, zephyrROGET THESAURUS
gale
Wind
N wind, draught, flatus, afflatus, efflation, eluvium, air, breath, breath of air, puff, whiff, zephyr, blow, breeze, drift, aura, stream, current, jet stream, undercurrent, gust, blast, squall, gale, half a gale, storm, tempest, hurricane, whirlwind, tornado, samiel, cyclone, anticyclone, typhoon, simoon, simoom, harmattan, monsoon, trade wind, sirocco, mistral, bise, tramontane, levanter, capful of wind, fresh breeze, stiff breeze, keen blast, blizzard, barber, candelia, chinook, foehn, khamsin, norther, vendaval, wuther, windiness, ventosity, rough weather, dirty weather, ugly weather, stress of weather, dirty sky, mare's tail, thick squall, black squall, white squall, anemography, aerodynamics, wind gauge, weathercock, vane, weather- vane, wind sock, anemometer, anemoscope, sufflation, insufflation, perflation, inflation, afflation, blowing, fanning, ventilation, sneezing, errhine, sternutative, sternutatory, sternutation, hiccup, hiccough, catching of the breath, Eolus, Boreas, Zephyr, cave of Eolus, air pump, air blower, lungs, bellows, blowpipe, fan, ventilator, punkah, branchiae, gills, flabellum, vertilabrum, whiffle ball, blowing, windy, flatulent, breezy, gusty, squally, stormy, tempestuous, blustering, boisterous, pulmonic, pulmonary, lull'd by soft zephyrs, the storm is up and all is on the hazard, the winds were wither'd in the stagnant air, while mocking winds are piping loud, winged with red lightning and tempestuous rage.For further exploring for "gale" in Webster Dictionary Online
