gale
n. countablen. a very strong wind that can be dangerous or cause damage. You often hear it used in weather reports about storms at sea.
n. a very strong wind, specifically one measuring between force 7 and 10 on the Beaufort scale. Often used in nautical or meteorological contexts to describe sustained winds capable of causing structural damage.
The ship stayed in the harbour to avoid the gale.
The weather forecast warned of a gale blowing in from the Atlantic, so we secured all the garden furniture.
The small fishing vessel struggled against the rising gale, its hull battered by waves that threatened to overwhelm the deck as the storm intensified throughout the night.
Often used in the plural ('gales') to describe a period of stormy weather. Frequently collocates with 'force' as in 'gale-force winds'.