Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Gale
Gale
(gāl)
, Noun.
[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. gjōla
gust of wind, gola
breeze. Cf. Yell
.] 1.
A strong current of air; a wind between a stiff breeze and a hurricane. The most violent gales are called
tempests
. ☞ Gales have a velocity of from about eighteen (“moderate”) to about eighty (“very heavy”) miles an our.
Sir. W. S. Harris.
2.
A moderate current of air; a breeze.
A little
gale
will soon disperse that cloud. Shakespeare
And winds of gentlest
From their soft wings.
gale
Arabian odors fannedFrom their soft wings.
Milton.
3.
A state of excitement, passion, or hilarity.
The ladies, laughing heartily, were fast getting into what, in New England, is sometimes called a
gale
. Brooke (Eastford).
Topgallant gale
(Naut.)
, one in which a ship may carry her topgallant sails.
Gale
,Verb.
I.
(Naut.)
To sale, or sail fast.
Gale
,Noun.
[AS.
gagel
, akin to D. gagel
.] (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
,Noun.
[Cf.
Gabel
.] The payment of a rent or annuity.
[Eng.]
Mozley & W.
Gale day
, the day on which rent or interest is due.
Webster 1828 Edition
Gale
GALE
,Noun.
In the language of seamen, the word gale,unaccompanied by an epithet, signifies a vehement wind, a storm or tempest. They say, the ship carried away her top-mast in a gale, or gale of wind; the ship rode out the gale. But the word is often qualified, as a hard or strong gale, a violent gale. A current of wind somewhat less violent is denominated a stiff gale. A less vehement wind is called a fresh gale, which is a wind not too strong for a ship to carry single reefed top-sails, when close hauled. When the wind is not so violent but that a ship will carry her top-sails a-trip or full spread, it is called a loom-gale.
GALE
,Verb.
I.