GALE • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Gale

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noun

Gale n.

A strong current of air; a wind between a stiff breeze and a hurricane. The most violent gales are called tempests. Note: Gales have a velocity of from about eighteen ("moderate") to about eighty ("very heavy") miles an our.

A moderate current of air; a breeze. "A little gale will soon disperse that cloud." "And winds of gentlest gale Arabian odors fanned From their soft wings."

A state of excitement, passion, or hilarity. "The ladies, laughing heartily, were fast getting into what, in New England, is sometimes called a gale."

Topgallant gale (Naut.), one in which a ship may carry her topgallant sails.

Gale n. A song or story. (Obs.)

Gale n. (Bot.) 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.

Gale n. The payment of a rent or annuity. (Eng.)

Gale day, the day on which rent or interest is due.

verb

Gale v. i. (Naut.) To sale, or sail fast.

Gale v. i. To sing. (Obs.) "Can he cry and gale."

See images of 'Gale'

Etymology of 'Gale'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Gale" Quotes from Famous Books

... carriage and all, and to hang to it, on the windy side (as well as we could for laughing), to prevent its going, Heaven knows where. For mere force of wind, this land-storm might have competed with an Atlantic gale, and had a reasonable chance of coming off victorious. The blast came sweeping down great gullies in a range of mountains on the right: so that we looked with positive awe at a great morass on the left, and saw that there was not a bush or ...

— Pictures from Italy • Charles Dickens

... enthusiasm was returned at the top of the poll. He took up again the congenial work of attacking abuses and agitating for reform, and in 1810 came sharply into collision with the House of Commons. A radical named John Gale Jones had been committed to prison by the House, a proceeding which was denounced by Burdett, who questioned the power of the House to take this step, and vainly attempted to secure the release of Jones. He then issued a revised edition of his speech on this occasion, and it was published ...

— Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 4 - "Bulgaria" to "Calgary" • Various

... the ancient town of Positano and were circling a gigantic point of rock, when the great adventure of the day overtook them. Without warning the wind came whistling around them in a great gale, which speedily increased in fury until it drove the blinded horses reeling against the low parapet and pushed upon the carriage as if determined to dash ...

— Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad • Edith Van Dyne

... Tamworth, the engine stopped through a defect in the balance springs of two exhaust valves; although it started up again after a 100 foot glide, it did not give enough power to give him safety in the gale he was facing. The rising wind kept him on the ground throughout the day, and, though he hoped for better weather, the gale kept up until the Sunday evening. The men in charge of the machine during its halt had attempted to hold the ...

— A History of Aeronautics • E. Charles Vivian

... everything which is not left (as parsons would say) to man's freewill, and clearly the weather is not included in that list. God is also omniscient, and what he foresees and does not alter is virtually his own work. Even if a tile drops on a man's head in a gale of wind, it falls, like the sparrow, by a divine rule; and it is really the Lord who batters the poor fellow's skull. An action for assault would undoubtedly lie, if there were any court in which the case could be pleaded. What a frightful total of damages ...

— Flowers of Freethought - (First Series) • George W. Foote

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