gale

¹

[ geyl ]

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.

gale

²

[ geyl ]

noun

1. sweet gale.

Gale

³

[ geyl ]

noun

1. Zo·na [zoh, -n, uh], 1874–1938, U.S. novelist, short-story writer, playwright, and poet.
2. a female or male given name.

gale

¹

/ 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

gale

²

/ ɡeɪl /

noun

1. short for sweet gale

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of gale¹

C16: of unknown origin

Origin of gale²

Old English gagel; related to Middle Low German gagel

Example Sentences

Brian Gale’s lighting and Cricket Myers’ sound design fine-tune the intricately layered mis-en-scene.

From Los Angeles Times

The National Weather Service has issued a gale warning and high surf advisory across the coast in Northern California, calling the ocean conditions hazardous, especially for inexperienced mariners and those operating small vessels.

From Los Angeles Times

Wayward farm girl Dorothy Gale has dropped into Oz by unintentionally but rather precisely dropping a house on the witch, freeing the colorful clan of Munchkins from the tyrannical scourge of a witch who took pleasure in bending them to her will.

From Salon

The cargo was originally destined for Africa, according to Sir Roger Gale, the MP for Herne Bay and Sandwich in Kent, and once it is removed the ship will be repaired.

From BBC

Long Beach firefighters responded to reports of an explosion on the 2800 block of Gale Avenue, officials said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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