gale

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A very strong wind, more than a breeze, less than a storm; number 7 through to 9 winds on the 12-step Beaufort scale.

   It's blowing a gale outside.

2. 2
   noun

   An outburst, especially of laughter.

   a gale of laughter

3. 3
   noun

   A light breeze.

   A little gale will soon disperse that cloud.

4. 4
   noun

   A periodic payment, such as is made of a rent or annuity.

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

5. 5
   noun

   The personal mining plot of a freeminer.

   As a rule the free miners do not work their own 'gales,' but dispose of them to capitalists.

6. 6
   noun

   a strong wind moving 45-90 knots

7. 7
   verb

   To cry; groan; croak.

8. 8
   verb

   To talk.

Etymology

From Middle English galen, from Old English galan (“to sing, enchant, call, cry, scream; sing charms, practice incantation”), from Proto-Germanic *galaną (“to roop, sing, charm”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰel- (“to shout, scream, charm away”). Cognate with Danish gale (“to crow”), Swedish gala (“to crow”), Icelandic gala (“to sing, chant, crow”), Dutch galm (“echo, sound, noise”). Related to yell.