different between zephyr vs squall

English

Alternative forms

• zephir
• zefir

Etymology

From Latin zephyrus (“west wind”), from Ancient Greek ??????? (Zéphuros).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /z?f?(?)/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /z?f?/
• Rhymes: -?f?(?)

Noun

zephyr (plural zephyrs)

1. A light wind from the west.

   Synonym: westerly

   • 1671, R. Bohun, A Discourse Concerning the Origine and Properties of Wind, Oxford: Tho. Bowman, pp. 149-150,^[1]

     The Western [winds] have been Counted the mildest, & most Auspicious of all others; and were so highly in favour with the Poets, that they thought them worthy of the Golden Age, and to refresh the Elysian groves. [...] But though the Breathing Zephyrs are so much celebrated in Poems and Romances, and happily were kinder to the delicious countries of Italy, & Greece, yet wee find no lesse malignity in their natures from particular accidents and climats, then what wee have observ’d of other Winds.

2. Any light refreshing wind; a gentle breeze.
3. Anything of fine, soft, or light quality, especially fabric.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

zephyr (third-person singular simple present zephyrs, present participle zephyring, simple past and past participle zephyred)

1. (intransitive, poetic) To blow or move like a zephyr, or light breeze.
   • 1879, Robert Stephen Hawker, “An Inscription for an Aged Oak” in The Poetical Works, London: The Bodley Head, p. 171,^[2]

     There was a time

     When the soft zephyring spring came joyfully,

     Like a young bride, with bloom upon her cheek—

   • 1908, Clarence E. Mulford, The Coming of Hopalong Cassidy, New York: Grosset & Dunlap, Chapter 4, p. 60,^[3]

     There was a sudden scrambling and thumping overhead and hot exclamations zephyred down to them.
2. (transitive, poetic) To blow or blow on gently like a zephyr; to cool or refresh with a gentle breeze.
   • 1849, letter from Leonidas Lent Hamline dated 15 December, 1849, in Walter Clark Palmer, Life and Letters of Leonidas L. Hamline, D.D., New York: Carlton & Porter, 1866, Chapter 15, p. 361,^[4]

     He was a fragrant poison, a zephyred pestilence spread through all the city.

   • 1914, Leonard Lanson Cline, untitled sonnet in Poems, Boston: The Poet Lore Company, p. 76,^[5]

     Ah, but the skies are joyous in the spring,

     From dawn to dusk exuberantly blue;

     White-tufted oftentimes with clouds that do

     But wanton in heaven’s zephyred merrying!

   • 1914, Juliane Paulsen (pseudonym of Juliane Grace Hansen), “Poppy Fantasy” in And Then Came Spring, Boston: The Gorham Press, p. 49,^[6]

     Oh, graciously she led my soul within

     Where ever and forever went a wind

     In zephyred streams of poppies coursing sweet

     About the place, and waves of poppy heat

     About us there.

English

Etymology

From Middle English *squalen (not recorded) and squelen (“to cry, scream, squall”), from Old Norse skvala (“to cry out”), probably ultimately imitative with influence from squeal and bawl.

Cognate with Swedish skvala (“to gush, pour down”), Norwegian skval (“sudden rush of water”). The noun is probably from the verb.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?skw??l/
• Rhymes: -??l

Noun

squall (plural squalls)

1. (meteorology) A squall line, multicell line, or part of a squall line.
2. (often nautical) A sudden storm, as found in a squall line.
3. A loud cry or wail.

Translations

Verb

squall (third-person singular simple present squalls, present participle squalling, simple past and past participle squalled)

1. To cry or wail loudly.
   • 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island:

     Squalling was the word for it, Pew's anger rose so high at these objections; till at last, his passion completely taking the upper hand, he struck at them right and left in his blindness, and his stick sounded heavily on more than one.

   • 1916, Jack London, The Red One:

     Squalling like an infuriated cat, the shadow crashed down

   • 1934 George Orwell, Burmese Days:

     The orchestra burst into a sudden loud squalling."

   • 1998, Anne McCafferey, Masterharper of Pern:

     she wrapped the squalling, wriggling baby tightly into the fine cotton sheet

Derived terms

• squaller
• squally

Translations

Further reading

• Oxford English Dictionary, 1884–1928, and First Supplement, 1933.