gale

v. i. [ AS. galan. See 1st Gale. ] To sing. [ Obs. ] “Can he cry and gale.” Court of Love. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. (Naut.) To sale, or sail fast. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] 1. A strong current of air; a wind between a stiff breeze and a hurricane. The most violent gales are called tempests. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Gales have a velocity of from about eighteen (“moderate”) to about eighty (“very heavy”) miles an our. Sir. W. S. Harris. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A moderate current of air; a breeze. [ 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 ]

3. A state of excitement, passion, or hilarity. [ 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.), one in which a ship may carry her topgallant sails. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Gabel. ] The payment of a rent or annuity. [ Eng. ] Mozley & W. [ 1913 Webster ]

Gale day, the day on which rent or interest is due. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. gal. See Gale wind. ] A song or story. [ Obs. ] Toone. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., a helmet. ] 1. (Bot.) The upper lip or helmet-shaped part of a labiate flower. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Surg.) A kind of bandage for the head. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Pathol.) Headache extending all over the head. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Paleon.) A genus of fossil echini, having a vaulted, helmet-shaped shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Zool.) The anterior, outer process of the second joint of the maxillae in certain insects. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Galleass.