fresh gale
- noun
- Specialized
:
viento fresco
- The ship was forced to change course due to a fresh gale sweeping across the sea.
Examples
-
Meteorologists warned of a fresh gale approaching the coastline overnight.
-
A fresh gale caused significant delays at the harbor yesterday afternoon.
-
A fresh gale is coming!
-
Look at that fresh gale!
-
Meteorologists warned of a fresh gale approaching the coastline overnight.
-
The ship was forced to change course due to a fresh gale sweeping across the sea.
-
A fresh gale caused significant delays at the harbor yesterday afternoon.
Synonyms
24
5.8
A very strong wind that can blow down trees
Antonyms
How Windy
- Specialized
24
5.8
- Specialized
- Specialized
1
2.2
- Specialized
1
3.4
201
1.0
735
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun 'gale' clearly names a strong wind and 'fresh' functions as an intensifying/modifying adjective, so a learner who knows both words can infer this is a type of wind stronger than ordinary. However, the precise meteorological sense (the Beaufort number and exact speed range) and the specialised maritime use of 'fresh' are not predictable from the constituents alone, so full meaning requires exposure.
Etymology
Fresh gale comes from old sailors' talk where gale meant a 'strong wind' and fresh meant it had just 'become stronger'. Picture sailors feeling the wind suddenly pick up and needing to change course, and that's why fresh gale now means a strong, newly stronger wind that can make sailing or travel difficult.