squall
squall¹
Definition
squall (skwôl)
noun
- a brief, violent windstorm, usually with rain or snow
- Informal trouble or disturbance
Etymology: < Scand, as in Swed sqval, a sudden shower, downpour: for prob. base see squall
intransitive verb
to storm briefly; blow a squall
squall′y adjective squall′i·er, squall′i·est
squall²
Definition
squall (skwôl)
intransitive verb, transitive verb
to cry or scream loudly and harshly
Etymology: < ON skvala, to cry out, yell: see squeal
noun
a harsh, shrill cry or loud scream
squall′er noun
squall
Synonyms
squall
Synonyms
squall
Usage Examples
Object
- guitar: With its thick, squalling guitar it sounds more like a précis of the full version that we know and love.
Converse of object
- pass: Only now, as it grows dark, do we realize that they were just passing squalls.
- have: Finally on Mickle Fell I had a squall from hell with torrential rain and gale force winds.
- weather: Thus far, the Ernst & Young ITEM Club has said that the UK has weathered recessionary squalls very well.
Converse of subject
- hit: We were sailing along quite happily in a good force 4 when we were hit by a squall.
Adjective modifier
- sudden: In many harbor areas or at the mouths of large river systems, these summer afternoon or evening breezes give rise to sudden squalls.
- fierce: The morning promised sunshine but dealt us a fierce squall of wind and rain just as we unpacked the minibus.
- violent: A few minutes more, and the little vessel was caught in a violent squall, and swept back into the cyclone.
- heavy: He said there were heavy rain squalls in the area.
- occasional: A light rain jacket is a good idea for the occasional squalls.
- strong: They had a rough passage with strong squalls which damaged some of the sails.
Modifies a noun
- line: Squall line 1840 with 5 mm hail turning to heavy snow.
Noun used with modifier
- rain: The great lagoon was making its own weather: in the far eastern corner there were gray pillars of a rain squall.
- snow: For example, three separate snow squalls affect your station during your 24- hour... your 24-hour snowfall total.
- wind: The pre-monsoon ( mid-April to early June ) is stifling at lower elevations, and dusty wind squalls are common.
- guitar: The Bevis Saloman adds strange psych guitar squalls as slowly but surely the sound takes flight & soars into the ether.
Preposition: of
- rain: By 29 October 2000, the winds had gusted to Gale Force 8 and even Storm Force 10, with squalls of heavy rain.
- feedback: This was apparently one long improvised " avant rock " piece, featuring much squalling of feedback.
- wind: The morning promised sunshine but dealt us a fierce squall of wind and rain just as we unpacked the minibus.
- hail: On Thompson, the high trees were filled with birds, and their chatter sounded like squalls of hail and glass.
