gale

Plural: gales

Noun

A very strong wind, typically used in nautical contexts.
a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
A very strong wind, more than a breeze, less than a storm; number 7 through to 9 winds on the 12-step Beaufort scale.
An outburst, especially of laughter.
A light breeze.
A shrub, also called sweet gale or bog myrtle (Myrica gale), that grows on moors and fens.
A periodic payment, such as is made of a rent or annuity.
The personal mining plot of a freeminer.

Verb

To cry; groan; croak.
To talk.
To sing; utter with musical modulations.
To sail, or sail fast.

Examples

A force nine gale.
a gale of laughter
A sudden GALE of inspiration led her to a bingo play, clearing her rack.
Gale day - the day on which rent or interest is due.
It's blowing a gale outside.
Many parts of the boat were damaged in the gale.

Origin / 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.

Scrabble Score: 5

gale: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
gale: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
gale: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 7

gale: valid Words With Friends Word