# Gayle

/ˈɡeɪɫ/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gayle
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a very strong wind. This is an old way of spelling 'gale' that people do not use anymore.

For teachers: an archaic spelling of 'gale', referring to a very strong wind or a wind of a specific force. Obsolete in modern standard English.

## Examples

- The old book described a fierce gayle at sea.
- In the 17th-century manuscript, the captain noted that a sudden gayle had torn the ship's main sail.
- While modern readers are familiar with the standard spelling, historical texts often render the term as gayle when describing the tempestuous weather common to the North Atlantic.

## Pitfalls

- Not "A strong gayle blew the trees down." but "A strong gale blew the trees down." — The spelling 'gayle' is obsolete; 'gale' is the correct modern form for a strong wind.

## Usage notes

- Archaic spelling; use 'gale' in all modern contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.