Nearby Words
noun
1.
a sudden, violent gust of wind, often accompanied by rain, snow, or sleet.
2.
a sudden disturbance or commotion.
verb (used without object)
3.
to blow as a squall.
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Squall
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is absquatulate. Does it mean:
| to bark; yelp. |
| to flee; abscond: |
Origin:
1690–1700; perhaps special use of squall2
1690–1700; perhaps special use of squall2
Related forms
squall·ish, adjective
Example Sentences
- Rather, they are up in arms because their phone lines are down due to mudslides from a recent sudden squall.
- We did get blown around a bit by this squall but thankfully managed to avoid the water spout.
- It counts the destruction of the redwoods and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic squall.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
verb (used without object)
1.
to cry or scream loudly and violently: The hungry baby began to squall.
verb (used with object)
2.
to utter in a screaming tone.
noun
3.
the act or sound of squalling: The baby's squall was heard next door.
Origin:
1625–35; perhaps < Old Norse skvala shriek, cry; compare Swedish, Norwegian skvala splash, stream
1625–35; perhaps < Old Norse skvala shriek, cry; compare Swedish, Norwegian skvala splash, stream
Related forms
squall·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To squall
Collins
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
squall
"sudden, violent gust of wind," 1719, originally nautical, probably from a Scand. source (cf. Norw. skval "sudden rush of water," Sw. skvala "to gush, pour down"), probably ult. a derivative of squall (v.).
EXPANDsquall
"cry out loudly," 1631, probably from O.N. skvala "to cry out," of imitative origin (cf. squeal).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
squall  (skwôl) Pronunciation Key
A brief, sudden, violent windstorm, often accompanied by rain or snow. A squall is said to occur if a wind having a sustained speed of 40 km (25 mi) per hour lasts at least 1 minute and then decreases rapidly. See also squall line. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia
squall
as used by weather forecasters, a sudden wind-speed increase of 8 metres per second (18 miles per hour) or more, for one minute or longer. It includes several briefer wind-speed changes, or gusts. A squall is often named for the weather phenomenon that accompanies it, such as rain, hail, or thunder; a line squall is one associated with a squall line of thunderstorms that is often hundreds of kilometres long.
Learn more about squall with a free trial on Britannica.com.
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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