gale
gale Lexical Profile
gale Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A very strong wind; in meteorology, a sustained wind typically ranging from 32 to 63 miles per hour (51 to 102 kilometers per hour) on the Beaufort scale.
"The fishing boats remained safely in the harbor while the autumn gale battered the coastline."
A sudden, loud outburst of a sound or emotion, especially laughter.
"The comedian's unexpected impression sent the entire audience into gales of laughter."
Any of several deciduous aromatic shrubs of the family Myricaceae, especially sweet gale (Myrica gale), native to northern peat bogs and wetlands and bearing resinous, fragrant leaves.
"Sweet gale grows abundantly across the marshy moorlands and was historically used to flavor traditional ales."
• Rhymes for gale
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the mid-16th century, probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Old Norse galinn ('frantic' or 'furious') and Old English galan ('to sing' or 'chant').