/ geɪl; NAmE / noun
1.
an extremely strong wind :
The gale blew down hundreds of trees.
gale-force winds
( BrE )
It's blowing a gale outside (= a strong wind is blowing) .
2.
gale(s) of laughter the sound of people laughing very loudly :
His speech was greeted with gales of laughter.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: perhaps related to Old Norse galinn mad, frantic.