cross sea

American  

noun

Oceanography, Nautical.

1. a sea with a choppy surface produced by the intersection of waves from different storms.

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Etymology

Origin of cross sea

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

The day was foggy, and a heavy, cross sea and lumpy waves kept the men miserably wet.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

It was a cross sea, for although the wind now blew nearly in their teeth, it had until the last half hour been from the west, and the waves were rolling in from the Atlantic.

From In Freedom's Cause : a Story of Wallace and Bruce by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)

From Pernambuco we experienced a strong current in our favour, with, sometimes, a confused cross sea that washed over us considerably.

From Voyage of the Liberdade by Slocum, Joshua

With a favorable wind such as was blowing at the moment, or to steady the yacht in a cross sea, the captain would have set a foresail and jib.

From The Wheel O' Fortune by Tracy, Louis

The violence and variableness of the wind soon raised a very rough and cross sea, which frequently broke over us, making every thing fly from side to side, and producing the greatest disorder.

From A Voyage Round the World, Volume I Including Travels in Africa, Asia, Australasia, America, etc., etc., from 1827 to 1832 by Holman, James