n. [ 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. ]
☞ Gales have a velocity of from about eighteen (“moderate”) to about eighty (“very heavy”) miles an our. Sir. W. S. Harris. [ 1913 Webster ]
A little gale will soon disperse that cloud. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
And winds of gentlest gale Arabian odors fanned
From their soft wings. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
The ladies, laughing heartily, were fast getting into what, in New England, is sometimes called a gale. Brooke (Eastford). [ 1913 Webster ]
Topgallant gale (Naut.),
v. i. (Naut.) To sale, or sail fast. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ AS. gagel, akin to D. gagel. ] (Bot.) A plant of the genus
v. i. [ AS. galan. See 1st Gale. ] To sing. [ Obs. ] “Can he cry and gale.” Court of Love. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Cf. Gabel. ] The payment of a rent or annuity. [ Eng. ] Mozley & W. [ 1913 Webster ]
Gale day,
n. [ OE. gal. See Gale wind. ] A song or story. [ Obs. ] Toone. [ 1913 Webster ]
‖n. [ L., a helmet. ]
n. See Galleass.
‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Galeus, name of one genus, fr. Gr. &unr_; a kind of shark. ] (Zool.) That division of elasmobranch fishes which includes the sharks. [ 1913 Webster ]