gale of wind

The Sailor's Word-Book

Implies what on shore is called a storm, more particularly termed a hard gale or strong gale; number of force, 10.


♦ A stiff gale is the diminutive of the preceding, but stronger than a breeze.

♦ A fresh gale is a still further diminutive, and not too strong for a ship to carry single-reefed top-sails when close-hauled.

♦ A top-gallant gale, if a ship can carry her top-gallant sails.

♦ To gale away, to go free.

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