Storm petrel

Storm petrel
Storm Storm, n. [AS. storm; akin to D. storm, G. sturm, Icel. stormr; and perhaps to Gr. ? assault, onset, Skr. s? to flow, to hasten, or perhaps to L. sternere to strew, prostrate (cf. {Stratum}). [root]166.] 1. A violent disturbance of the atmosphere, attended by wind, rain, snow, hail, or thunder and lightning; hence, often, a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail, whether accompanied with wind or not. [1913 Webster]

We hear this fearful tempest sing, Yet seek no shelter to avoid the storm. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. A violent agitation of human society; a civil, political, or domestic commotion; sedition, insurrection, or war; violent outbreak; clamor; tumult. [1913 Webster]

I will stir up in England some black storm. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Her sister Began to scold and raise up such a storm. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. A heavy shower or fall, any adverse outburst of tumultuous force; violence. [1913 Webster]

A brave man struggling in the storms of fate. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

4. (Mil.) A violent assault on a fortified place; a furious attempt of troops to enter and take a fortified place by scaling the walls, forcing the gates, or the like. [1913 Webster]

Note: Storm is often used in the formation of self-explained compounds; as, storm-presaging, stormproof, storm-tossed, and the like. [1913 Webster]

{Anticyclonic storm} (Meteor.), a storm characterized by a central area of high atmospheric pressure, and having a system of winds blowing spirally outward in a direction contrary to that cyclonic storms. It is attended by low temperature, dry air, infrequent precipitation, and often by clear sky. Called also {high-area storm}, {anticyclone}. When attended by high winds, snow, and freezing temperatures such storms have various local names, as {blizzard}, {wet norther}, {purga}, {buran}, etc.

{Cyclonic storm}. (Meteor.) A cyclone, or low-area storm. See {Cyclone}, above.

{Magnetic storm}. See under {Magnetic}.

{Storm-and-stress period} [a translation of G. sturm und drang periode], a designation given to the literary agitation and revolutionary development in Germany under the lead of Goethe and Schiller in the latter part of the 18th century.

{Storm center} (Meteorol.), the center of the area covered by a storm, especially by a storm of large extent.

{Storm door} (Arch.), an extra outside door to prevent the entrance of wind, cold, rain, etc.; -- usually removed in summer.

{Storm path} (Meteorol.), the course over which a storm, or storm center, travels.

{Storm petrel}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Stormy petrel}, under {Petrel}.

{Storm sail} (Naut.), any one of a number of strong, heavy sails that are bent and set in stormy weather.

{Storm scud}. See the Note under {Cloud}. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Tempest; violence; agitation; calamity.

Usage: {Storm}, {Tempest}. Storm is violent agitation, a commotion of the elements by wind, etc., but not necessarily implying the fall of anything from the clouds. Hence, to call a mere fall or rain without wind a storm is a departure from the true sense of the word. A tempest is a sudden and violent storm, such as those common on the coast of Italy, where the term originated, and is usually attended by a heavy rain, with lightning and thunder. [1913 Webster]

Storms beat, and rolls the main; O! beat those storms, and roll the seas, in vain. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

What at first was called a gust, the same Hath now a storm's, anon a tempest's name. --Donne. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • storm petrel — ► NOUN ▪ a small petrel with blackish plumage, formerly believed to be a sign of bad weather to come …   English terms dictionary

  • storm petrel — n. any of a family (Hydrobatidae) of petrels; esp., a black and white species (Hydrobates pelagicus) of the N Atlantic and the Mediterranean …   English World dictionary

  • Storm-petrel — Taxobox name = Storm petrels image width = 250px image caption = Wilson s Storm Petrel regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves ordo = Procellariiformes familia = Hydrobatidae familia authority = Mathews, 1912 subdivision ranks = Genera …   Wikipedia

  • storm petrel — any of several small, tube nosed seabirds of the family Hydrobatidae, usually having black or sooty brown plumage with a white rump. Also, storm petrel. Cf. stormy petrel. [1795 1805] * * * Any of about 20 species (family Hydrobatidae) of petrels …   Universalium

  • storm petrel — noun any of various small petrels having dark plumage with paler underparts • Hypernyms: ↑petrel • Hyponyms: ↑stormy petrel, ↑northern storm petrel, ↑Hydrobates pelagicus, ↑Mother Carey s chicken, ↑Mother Carey s hen, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • storm petrel — noun Any of several small seabirds, of the family Hydrobatidae, having dark plumage and a white rump. Syn: Mother Careys chicken, storm petrel, stormy petrel …   Wiktionary

  • storm petrel — storm′ pet rel or storm′ pet rel n. orn any of several small, tube nosed seabirds of the family Hydrobatidae, usu. having black or sooty brown plumage with a white rump • Etymology: 1795–1805 …   From formal English to slang

  • storm petrel — small petrel with blackish feathers (in the past was believed to announce the approaching bad weather) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • storm petrel — noun a small petrel with blackish plumage, formerly believed to be a harbinger of bad weather. [Hydrobates pelagicus (NE Atlantic and Mediterranean) and other species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • storm-petrel — /ˈstɔm pɛtrəl / (say stawm petruhl) noun any of various small dark seabirds of the subfamily Hydrobatinae. Also, stormy petrel …  

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