Storm sb. World English Historical Dictionary

Storm sb. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1919, rev. 2024. Storm sb. Also (1 stearm north.), 3–7 storme (3 steorm, storem, 5 stourme, starme). [Com. Teut. (not recorded in Gothic): OE. storm masc. corresp. to Fris., OS. (MLG., Du.) storm, OHG. (MHG., mod.G.) sturm, ON. storm-r (Sw., Da. storm):—OTeut. *sturmo-z (whence Rom. *stormo: see STOUR sb.1), f. root *stur- (? *stwer-) of STIR v.]

1   I.  1. A violent disturbance of the atmosphere, manifested by high winds, often accompanied by heavy falls of rain, hail, or snow, by thunder and lightning, and at sea by turbulence of the waves. Hence sometimes applied to a heavy fall of rain, hail, or snow, or to a violent outbreak of thunder and lightning, unaccompanied by strong wind.

2   More explicitly storm of hail, † lightning, rain, † thunder; also with the sb. prefixed, as HAILSTORM, RAIN-storm, SNOW-STORM, THUNDER-STORM.

3 c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter, xlix. 3. Fyr in ʓesihðe his beorneð & in ymbhwyrfte his storm strong. Ibid., liv. 9. Ic bad hine se mec halne dyde from lytelmodum & storme.

4 c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xvi. 3. To dæʓ [bið] stearm, faʓas forðon unrotlic heofon.

5 c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., III. 274. Seo lyft ðe we ymbe sprecað astihð up fornean oð þone monan & abyrð ealle wolcna stormas.

6 a. 1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1070. Þa com an mycel storm & to dræfede ealle þa scipe þær þa gersumes wæron inne.

7 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 143. Ech eorþe scal hwakien on his ecsene alse deoð þe see in storme.

8 c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 161. Storemes falleð in þe sæ, and to-worpeð hit.

9 a. 1225.  Juliana, 76. As ha weren in wettre com a steorm [v.r. strom] & draf ham to londe.

10 a. 1225.  [see STILL B. 2].

11 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1122. Ther ran a rumbel and a swough As though a storm sholde bresten euery bough.

12 c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 7631. The stourme wex still.

13 c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 477/2. Storm, wedyr, nimbus, procella, altanus. Storm, yn the see, turbo.

14 c. 1475.  Rauf Coilȝear, 32. His steid aganis the storme staluartlie straid.

15 1594.  Kyd, Cornelia, I. 82. The windie storme Doth topside-turuey tosse thee as thou flotest. Ibid., II. 93. Enemies … Beat backe like flyes before a storme of hayle.

16 1597.  Donne, Poems, Storm, 32. And what at first was call’d a gust, the same Hath now a stormes, anon a tempests name.

17 1610.  Shaks., Temp., II. ii. 19. Heres … another Storme brewing, I beare it sing ith’ winde.

18 1621.  in Foster, Eng. Factories India (1906), 280. A storme of thunder and rayne came.

19 1627.  Capt. Smith, Sea Gram., x. 47. A Storm is knowne … not to bee much lesse than a tempest, that will blow downe houses, and trees vp by the roots.

20 1665.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 126. That night we … were entertained by … a sudden storm of rain, thunder, and lightning.

21 1725.  De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 18. The wind setting in at South-west, blew a storm.

22 1735.  Johnson, Lobo’s Abyssinia, Voy., i. 2. We had our Rigging somewhat damag’d by a Storm of Lightning.

23 1788.  Wesley, Jrnl., 6 Oct. When I came into the town, it blew a storm…. But it fell as suddenly as it rose. Ibid., 25 Nov. Though it blew a storm, and was piercing cold, we were sufficiently crowded at Dover.

24 1805.  Scott, Lett., 18 Aug., in Lockhart (1837), II. ii. 60. The most dreadful storm of thunder and lightning I ever witnessed.

25 1847.  Tennyson, Princess, IV. 256. Like the mystic fire on a mast-head, Prophet of storm.

26 1861.  Dickens, Lett. (1880), II. 156. The storm was most magnificent at Dover.

27 1895.  Law Times Rep., LXXIII. 156/2. Two vessels … drifted through the violence of a storm on to the toe of a breakwater.

28   in figurative context.  c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., ix. 58. Hwæt is ðonne ðæt rice & se ealdordom buton ðæs modes storm, se symle bið cnyssende ðæt scip ðære heortan?

29 1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, V. iv. 42. Why what’s the matter? That you haue such a Februarie face, So full of frost, of storme, and clowdinesse.

30 1740.  C. Wesley, Hymn, Jesu, lover of my soul, i. Hide me, o my Saviour, hide, Till the storm of life is past.

31 1850.  Tennyson, In Mem., xxxiii. 1. O thou that after toil and storm Mayst seem to have reach’d a purer air.

32   b.  Used spec. as the distinctive appellation of a particular degree of violence in wind. In mod. Meteorology: An atmospheric disturbance that in the Beaufort scale is classed as intermediate between a whole gale and a hurricane, having a wind-force estimated at 10–11 and a limit of velocity at from 56–75 miles per hour.

33 1801.  Capper, Observ. Winds & Monsoons, Pref. p. xxiii. The tempest … is … the same as a hurricane, or whirlwind: I shall therefore use these words synonimously, and place them in the first order, or degree of violent winds. The storm, or what the English seamen call a hard gale, is likewise, I believe, nearly the same; I shall, therefore, make use of the former for the land, and the latter for the sea term, and reckon these in the second class.

34 1858.  Fitzroy, Meteorol. Papers, III. 94/1. [Beaufort Scale.] 11 Storm.

35 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., s.v. Storms, That is a storm which reduces a ship to her storm stay-sails, or to her bare poles.

36   c.  spec. A snowstorm. Also, a quantity of fallen snow. Sc.

37 1681.  Fountainhall, Chronol. Notes (1822), 8. A great storm of snow had fallen.

38 c. 1730.  Burt, Lett. N. Scot. (1754), II. xviii. 67. There fell a very great Storm (as they call it) for by the Word Storm they only mean Snow.

39 1787.  [J. Beattie], Scoticisms, 119. They turned him out,… though there was a storm of snow lying on the ground.

40   d.  A period of hard weather with frost and snow. Sc. and Colonial.

41 1880.  J. Colquhoun, Moor & Loch, I. 239. Even the sea-worm having failed at the end of that long continued storm.

42 1887.  I. R., Lady’s Ranche Life in Montana, 24. This ‘storm,’ as they call the spell of cold weather, lasted about 10 days.

43   e.  Magnetic storm: a magnetic disturbance observed simultaneously over a considerable portion of the globe.

44 1860.  Sabine, in Proc. Roy. Soc., X. 634. The casual magnetic disturbances, or magnetic storms.

45 1871.  Nature, 5 Oct., 441/1. Observations upon magnetic storms in higher latitudes.

46   f.  Proverbial phrases.

47   A storm in a teacup (and earlier phrases: see quots.): a great commotion in a small community or about a trifling matter. [Prob. after L. fluctus excitare in simpulo (Cic.).]

48 1590.  Greene, Neuer too late, II. (1600), L 3 b. No storme so sharpe to rent the little Reede.

49 1603.  Drayton, Bar. Wars, III. lv. Let’s feare no Storme, before we feele a Showre.

50 1642.  Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., V. xiv. 415. At last he is as welcome as a storm.

51 1678.  Dk. Ormond, Let. Earl Arlington, 28 Dec., in Hist. MSS. Comm., Ormonde MSS. IV. 292. Our skirmish seems to be come to a period, and compared with the great things now on foot, is but a storm in a cream bowl.

52 1770.  Gentl. Mag., XL. 569. He [has] … Been in a storm; this is a sea-phrase for being less than dead-drunk. Ibid. (1830), C. I. 49/2. Each campaign, compared with those of Europe, has been only, in Lord Thurlow’s phrase, a storm in a wash-hand basin.

53 1872–.  [see TEA-CUP c].

54 1878.  [see SLOP-BASIN].

55   2.  transf. A heavy discharge or downfall (of missiles, blows).

56 Beowulf, 3117. Þonne stræla storm strengum ʓebæded scoc ofer scildweall.

57 1600.  Fairfax, Tasso, XI. xxxiv. Adrastus first … through the falling storme did vpward clime Of stones, dartes, arrowes, fire, pitch and lime.

58 1615.  Kyd, Span. Trag., I. ii. 53. Thicke stormes of bullets ran like winters haile.

59 1667.  Milton, P. L., I. 172. The Sulphurous Hail Shot after us in storm. Ibid., VI. 546. This day will pour down … no drizling show’r, But ratling storm of Arrows barbd with fire.

60 1777.  Potter, Æschylus, Persians, 486. Whilst broken rocks … And storms of arrows crush’d them.

61 1817.  Scott, Harold, VI. xv. Then rose His mace, and with a storm of blows The mortal and the Demon close.

62 1849.  W. S. Mayo, Kaloolah, ii. (1850), 24. She [the frigate] sent forth a storm of shot.

63   fig.  1842.  Tennyson, St. Sim. Styl., 7. Battering the gates of heaven with storms of prayer.

64   3.  fig. and in figurative context. a. A violent disturbance of affairs whether civil, political, social or domestic; commotion, sedition, tumult. More definitely storm of rebellion, state, strife, war, etc.

65 a. 1000.  Andreas, 1236 (Gr.). Storm upp aras æfter ceasterhofum, cirm unlytel hæðnes heriʓes.

66 c. 1315.  Shoreham, Poems, vii. 716. For þou [sc. the serpent] areredst þerne storm And alle þys hete, Acorsed be þou bestes by-syde.

67 c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 910. Ryȝt so holy chyrche after þat starme Shalle haue þe maystre atte lest.

68 1477.  Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 1. Subgette and thral vnto the stormes of fortune.

69 1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. i. 349. I will stirre vp in England some black Storme, Shall blowe ten thousand soules to Heauen, or Hell.

70 1614.  Bacon, Charge touching Duels, 9. It may cause suddaine stormes in Court, to the disturbance of his Maiestie.

71 1713.  Pope, Prol. to Addison’s Cato, 21. A brave man struggling in the storms of fate.

72 1741.  Kames, Decis. Crt. Sess. 1730–52 (1799), 33. Newlands dreading the storm, had retired out of the country.

73 1802.  Canning, Song, Here’s to the pilot that weather’d the storm! [i.e., Pitt.]

74 1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xii. III. 207. A violent storm broke forth. Daly was ordered to attend at the bar.

75 1868.  Freeman, Norm. Conq., II. ix. 361. A monk of the house, who … contrived to weather all storms, and died in possession of his Abbey.

76   b.  A tumultuous rush (of sound, tears, etc.); a vehement utterance (of words); a violent outburst (of censure, ridicule, etc.); a passionate manifestation of feeling.

77 1602.  trans. Guarini’s Pastor Fido, IV. viii. M 2 b. That … afterward dost mooue A thousand stormes of sighes, of teares, of plaintes.

78 1611.  Bible, Transl. Pref., ¶ 1. For, was there euer any thing proiected, that sauoured any way of newnesse … but the same endured many a storme of gaine-saying, or opposition?

79 1615.  Chapman, Odyss., IX. 435. With stories of whistlings [Gr. πολλῆ ῥοίζω] then, his flocks he draue Vp to the mountaines.

80 1693.  Dryden, Persius, I. 36. The Prose is Fustian, and the Numbers lame. All Noise, and empty Pomp, a storm of Words.

81 1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 407, ¶ 4. How much more they would have been alarmed, had they heard him actually throwing out such a Storm of Eloquence.

82 1781.  Cowper, Table-T., 491. The strings are swept with such a pow’r, so loud, The storm of music shakes th’ astonish’d crowd.

83 1832.  Warren, Diary Physic., II. iii. 124. He concluded amid a storm of applause.

84 1847.  Tennyson, Princess, v. 477. At which the storm Of galloping hoofs bare on the ridge of spears And riders front to front.

85 1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 484. He … faced the storm of invective which burst upon him from bar, bench, and witness box, with the insolence of despair.

86 1891.  Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xxviii. Octavia disburdened the long-pent agony of repression in … a storm of weeping.

87   c.  Commotion or unrest (of mind or soul); a tumultuous assemblage (of thoughts, feelings).

88 1569.  Underdowne, Heliodorus, VII. 89. A whole storme of thoughtes in a manner ouerwhelmed her.

89 1728–46.  Thomson, Spring, 299. These, and a thousand mixed emotions more,… vex the mind With endless storm.

90 1729.  G. Adams, trans. Sophocl., Antig., III. v. II. 51. Still the same Violence of the Storms of her Soul torments her.

91 1864.  Tennyson, Aylmer’s F., 322. Sir Aylmer reddening from the storm within, Then broke all bonds of courtesy, and crying ‘Boy’ [etc.].

92 1894.  Hall Caine, Manxman, III. xii. 170. She … covered up her head in the clothes as before, but with a storm of other feelings.

93   d.  Storm and stress [G. Sturm und Drang]: used to designate the movement in German literature about 1770–82, due to a school of young writers characterized by extravagance in the representation of violent passion, and by energetic repudiation of the ‘rules’ of the French critics.

94   Sturm und Drang, the title of a play by F. M. Klinger (1776), was seized upon by the historians of literature as aptly expressing the spirit of the school to which the author belonged.

95 1855.  G. H. Lewes, Goethe, I. III. i. 140. [1771] The period known as the Storm and Stress period was then about to astonish Germany, and to startle all conventions, by works such as Gerstenberg’s Ugolino, Goethe’s Götz von Berlichingen, Klinger’s Sturm und Drang (from whence the name), and Schiller’s Robbers.

96 1900.  F. H. Stoddard, Evol. Eng. Novel, iv. 144. That group of men whom collectively we take to illustrate the early Storm and Stress.

97   transf.  1839.  Longf., Hyperion, II. viii. Did you never have the misfortune … to know one of the benefactors of the human race, in the very ‘storm and pressure period’ of his indiscreet enthusiasm?

98 1879.  Farrar, St. Paul, II. 411. Written during the years A.D. 57 and 58, a period pre-eminently of storm and stress in the Apostle’s life.

99 1900.  G. C. Brodrick, Memories & Impressions, 227. I never knew John Bright personally until his time of storm and stress was over.

100   4.  Path. A paroxysm, violent access (of pain or disease). Now chiefly with qualifying word, as asthmatic, rheumatic storm.

101 1545.  Raynalde, Byrth Mankynde, 58. Another dyette there is, the whiche she ought to obserue in ye tyme of labour: when the stormes and thronges begyn to come on.

102 1612.  Shelton, Quixote, I. III. iii. (1620), 134. He swet, and swet againe, with … excessiue swoonings. This storme and mishap endured about some two houres.

103 1897.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., III. 39. All these together as phenomena of the same rheumatic storm. Ibid. (1898), V. 288. The asthmatic storm flits about the lung, now here, now there. Ibid. (1899), VII. 819. We should expect the final storm of grave symptoms [in an attack of convulsions] to be preceded by indications of gradual failure.

104   b.  Brain storm, nerve storm: see quots.

105 1890.  Billings, Med. Dict., Nerve-storms, sudden attacks or paroxysms of neuroses or functional nervous disease.

106 1894.  G. M. Gould, Illustr. Dict. Med., Brain-storm, a succession of sudden and severe phenomena, due to some cerebral disturbance.

107   II.  [f. STORM v.]

108   5.  Mil. A violent assault on a fortified place.

109 1645.  Cromwell, in Carlyle, Lett. & Sp. (1845), I. 225. The day and hour of our storm was appointed. Ibid., 226. The General’s signal unto a storm, was to be, The … discharging four pieces of cannon.

110 1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl., II. iii. (1848), 107. A Fortress, whose Defendants are not Treacherous, can scarce be taken otherwise than either by Famine, or Storm.

111 1748.  Anson’s Voy., II. xi. 255. We should have carried the fort by storm.

112 1813.  Wellington, in Gurw., Desp. (1838), X. 548. I believe the Storm ought to take place by daylight.

113 1840.  W. C. Burns, in I. Burns, Life, ix. (1870), 204. He served at eight storms, and twelve general engagements.

114 1869.  Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1875), III. xii. 168. An attempt at a storm was beaten back by the defenders.

115   b.  To take by storm: to take possession of by a sudden attack; to carry by assault.

116 1687.  A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 72. At length they took the Town by storm.

117 1734.  trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), I. 149. The town was taken by storm.

118 1870.  Rogers, Hist. Glean., Ser. II. 49. The rioters took Norwich by storm.

119   fig.  1847.  C. Brontë, Jane Eyre, xxxiii. How I looked while these ideas were taking my spirit by storm, I cannot tell.

120 1889.  Jessopp, Coming of Friars, i. 27. The Franciscans … were taking the world by storm.

121   III.  6. attrib. and Comb.: a. simple attrib., as storm-blast, -burst, -drop, -gust, -lift, -shock, -sprite; also storm-like adj. and adv.

122 1817.  Coleridge, Anc. Mar., I. 41. And now the *Storm-blast came.

123 a. 1849.  J. C. Mangan, Poems (1859), 69. The *storm-burst is over.

124 1836.  Keble, in Lyra Apost. (1849), 167. Now the big *storm-drops fall.

125 1860.  Tyndall, Glac., I. xxvii. 198. Wild *storm-gusts, sent down against us from Mont Blanc himself.

126 1870.  Morris, Earthly Par., III. IV. 372. The storm began To rumble, and the *storm-lift moving slow, Over a full third of the sky to grow.

127 a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, III. Amphialus’ Dream (1605), 261. Whereout with sudden fall … There came a chariot faire … Whose *stormelike course staid not till hard by me it bided.

128 1607.  Chapman, Bussy d’Ambois, II. i. 101. Storme-like he fell, and hid the feare-cold Earth.

129 1705.  Mrs. Centlivre, Basset-Table, IV. I am rough and storm-like in my temper.

130 1849.  Christina Rossetti, Poems (1904), 118/1. See the ancient pine that stands the firmer For the *storm-shock that it bore.

131 1817.  Scott, Harold, III. ix. When the *storm-sprite shrieks in air.

132   b.  instrumental, as storm-armed, -beat, -beaten, -bound, -encompassed, -laden, -rent, -swept, -tossed, -washed, -worn adjs.

133 1591.  Sylvester, Ivry, 174. *Storm-arm’d Auster cruell.

134 1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. xii. 32. Here may thy *storme-bet vessel safely ride.

135 1814.  Scott, To Dk. Buccleuch, 64. On every storm-beat cape.

136 1582.  Stanyhurst, Æneis, I. (Arb.), 37. Lyke plodding *stormebeaten haglers.

137 c. 1600.  Shaks., Sonn., xxxiv. 6. To dry the raine on my storme-beaten face.

138 a. 1639.  T. Carew, Poems (1651), 28. I float Far from the shore, in a storm-beaten boat.

139 1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xviii. IV. 191. Some stormbeaten pinnacle of rock.

140 1830.  Carlyle, in Froude, Life (1882), II. 66. After so many weeks of *storm-bound inactivity.

141 1817.  Shelley, Rev. Islam, VII. xxxvii. Like the fires that flare In *storm-encompassed isles.

142 1899.  Mackail, Morris, II. 27. The *storm-laden air that he began to feel around him.

143 1794.  Coleridge, To Yng. Lady, 21. Amid the yelling of the *storm-rent skies!

144 1805.  Scott, Last Minstrel, VI. xxi. Where restless seas Howl round the *storm-swept Orcades.

145 1610–1.  J. Davies (Heref.), Paper’s Compl. (Grosart), 78/1. Looke downe … Vpon Thy Church *storme-tossed euery houre.

146 1842.  Carlyle, Past & Pr., I. vi. 48. Through all these stormtost seas,… the Supreme Powers are driving us.

147 1840.  Thackeray, Shabby-genteel Story, ii. The *storm-washed shores of Margate in winter.

148 1885.  Tennyson, Dead Prophet, v. A *storm-worn signpost not to be read.

149   c.  objective, as storm-bringer; storm-boding, -breathing, -portending, -presaging adjs.

150 1672.  Davenant, Masque (1673), 365. The *storm-boading Whale.

151 1594.  Chapman, Shadow of Nt., D ij. *Storme-breathing Lelaps.

152 1552.  Huloet, *Storme brynger,… nimbifer.

153 1582.  Stanyhurst, Æneis, I. (Arb.), 35. But with a flaw suddeyn chauffing stormbringer Orion, Spurnt vs too the waters.

154 1845.  Bailey, Festus (ed. 2), 198. A *storm-portending cloud.

155 1809.  Scott, Poacher, 143. The waning moon, with *storm-presaging gleam.

156   d.  Special comb.: storm-area, the area of the earth’s surface over which a storm spreads itself; also fig.; storm-beach (see quot.); storm-bell (a) [cf. G. sturmglocke] an alarm bell; (b) (see quot. 1910); storm-belt, a belt or zone in which storms occur periodically; storm-breeder (see quot.); storm card, a transparent disc marked with lines representing the wind-directions of a cyclonic storm, to be placed over the ship’s position on the chart in order to ascertain the course of the storm-center; storm center, the central area of a cyclonic storm, characterized by comparative calmness; fig. the central point around which a storm of controversy, trouble, etc., rages; the seat of disease, sedition, and the like; storm-circle = storm-card; storm-clock (a) [G. sturmglocke], nonce-use an alarm bell; (b) a meteorograph, spec. one devised by Sir F. Ronalds (Cent. Dict., Suppl., 1909); storm-cloud, a heavy cloud that threatens or comes with rain; also fig.; stormcoat, a waterproof coat or heavy overcoat for use in stormy weather; storm-compass = storm-card (Cent. Dict.); storm-cone = CONE sb.1 9; storm-current (see quot.); storm door U.S., an outer or supplementary door for use in stormy weather; storm-drum, a canvas cylinder hoisted in conjunction with the storm cone as a weather-signal; = DRUM sb.1 8 b; storm-fire = CORPOSANT; storm-flag (a) U.S., each of the flags used in the U.S. system of storm-signalling (Cent. Dict.); (b) the smallest national flag used at posts and flown only in stormy weather (W., 1911); storm-glass, a hermetically sealed tube containing a solution that becomes flocculent on the approach of a storm; storm-god, a deity supposed to rule the storms; so also storm-goddess; storm-head window, a kind of dormer window; † storm-hole, ? an opening made in a wall for letting out water resulting from a storm; storm-house U.S., a temporary shelter against storm for workmen (Cent. Dict.); storm-jacket, a weatherproof jacket; storm-jib Naut. (see quot. 1867); storm-kite (see quot.); storm-light, the lurid light seen in a stormy sky; also = CORPOSANT; storm mizen, -pane (see quots.); storm-path = storm-track; storm-pavement (see quot.); † storm-pole Mil., each of a series of stakes driven into a defensive work as a protection against assault; storm-porch, a porch for the protection of an outer door from storms; storm power = storm-god; storm-proof a., (a) impervious to storm; (b) proof against storming or assault; also fig.; storm-sail (see quot. 1867); storm-shutter, an outside window-shutter for use in stormy weather; storm-signal, a signal exhibited at coastguard stations, etc., to give warning of the approach and direction of dangerous winds; also fig.; hence storm-signalling vbl. sb., the signalling of storms; also attrib.; storm-spencer = storm-trysail; storm-stayed (-staid), chiefly Sc., prevented by stress of weather from making or continuing a journey; storm-staysail, a staysail of reduced dimensions for use in a storm; storm-stead a. Sc. = storm-stayed; storm-system, the group of low-pressure areas (revolving round a center of lowest pressure) constituting a cyclonic storm; storm track, the path traversed by the center of a cyclonic storm; storm-trysail (see quot.); storm-warning, warning of the approach of a storm obtained by meteorological observation; storm-water, (a) an abnormal amount of surface water resulting from a heavy fall of rain or snow; also attrib.; (b) poet., water agitated by a storm; storm-wave, an abnormally heavy wave due to cyclonic disturbance which rolls across the ocean and frequently causes the inundation of low-lying coast lands; also fig.; storm-wind, the wind that accompanies a storm; also fig.; storm-window, (a) = storm-head window; (b) an outer window to protect the inner from the effects of storms (Cassell, 1888); † storm-winnock (-windoik) Sc. = prec. (a); storm-zone = storm-belt.

157 1853.  W. R. Birt, Handbk. Law of Storms, 29. The above considerations lead to a most important division of the *storm area.

158 1898.  Daily News, 8 Nov., 4/7. As the day for the meeting of the Czar’s Conference on Peace draws near, the storm-area seems to be steadily extending.

159 1882.  Geikie, Text-bk. Geol., III. I. iii. 277. Accumulations of gravel or *‘storm-beaches’ are often thrown up by storms, even above the level of ordinary high-tide mark.

160 1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. I. iv. At two o’clock the *stormbell shall be sounded,… all Paris shall rush … and have itself enrolled.

161 1910.  Encycl. Brit., III. 688/2. A storm-bell warns travellers in the plain of storms approaching from the mountains.

162 1891.  Century Dict., *Storm-belt.

163 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., *Storm-breeders, heavy cumulo-stratus clouds.

164 1844.  *Storm card [see storm circle].

165 1894.  Harper’s Weekly, 7 April, 315. It establishes a sort of Weather Bureau of disease, and … is to show … where the *storm centres of communicable disease are.

166 1900.  A. Church & Peterson, Nervous & Mental Dis. (ed. 2), 181. The initial or signal symptom … becomes highly significant as pointing to the storm-center, the point of greatest instability and usually the seat of organic disease.

167 1900.  Jrnl. Sch. Geog. (U.S.), June, 228. To fix the direction of the storm centre from the vessel, it is thus only necessary to face the wind.

168 1844.  H. Piddington, Horn-bk. of Storms, 5. The horn plates in the pockets of this book are what is called Col. Reid’s Hurricane, or *Storm, circles, or cards.

169 1819.  Scott, Leg. Montrose, xiv. ‘That,’ said he, must be the alarm—the *storm-clock, as the Germans call it.’ Ibid. (1822), Maid of Isla, ii. Her white wing gleams through mist and spray, Against the *storm-cloud.

170 1897.  Outing (U.S.), XXX. 162/2. *Stormcoat.

171 1863.  in Fitzroy, Rep. Meteorologic Office (1864), p. xi. note. This morning the *storm cone was hoisted.

172 1843.  H. Piddington, in Jrnl. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, XII. I. 398. The *‘storm current’ may be briefly described as circular streams on the circumferences of rotatory storms.

173 1878.  E. B. Tuttle, Border Tales, 29. The horses … broke loose from the stable, and begun gnawing the *storm doors in front of the officers’ quarters.

174 1866.  Daily Tel., 18 Jan., 4/5. It is not because occasional perturbations … baffle the reckonings of science, that meteorology should be ignored—four times out of five the *storm-drum is right.

175 1881.  Times, 19 Jan., 10/3. This evening the south storm-drum is hoisted at the semaphore at the Dockyard.

176 a. 1847.  Eliza Cook, Birds, v. 21. The *storm-fire burns, but what care they?

177 1883.  A. I. Menken, Infelicia, 38. Heed not the storm-fires that so terribly burn in the black sky.

178 1823.  Mech. Mag., I. 274. Those glasses … which are sold in the shops of opticians, under the name of *‘Storm Glasses.’

179 1864.  Spencer, Biol., 78. The relation between the phenomena occurring in the storm-glass and in the atmosphere respectively, is really not a correspondence at all.

180 1877.  C. P. Tiele, Outl. Hist. Relig., 113. In this conflict he [Indra vritrahan] is surrounded by the Maruts or *storm-gods, led by Rudra.

181 1869.  Tozer, Highl. Turkey, II. 320. The character of a *storm-goddess, in which she [the Lamia] thus appears.

182 1833.  Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 455. The next characteristic is the *storm-head window.

183 1419.  Mem. Ripon (Surtees), III. 146. Et in salar. Will. de Cloke, carpentarii, emendantis diversos defectus in le Ales, et facientis *Stormholes.

184 1844.  H. Miller, in W. K. Leask, Life, iv. (1896), 109. Encased in his ample-skirted *storm-jacket of oiled canvas.

185 1833.  Marryat, P. Simple, xlvii. Another try-sail and a *storm-jib were expanded to the wind.

186 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Storm-jib, in cutters, the fifth or sixth size: the inner jib of square-rigged ships. Ibid., *Storm-kite, a contrivance for sending a hawser from a stranded vessel to the shore.

187 1843.  Emerson, Misc. Papers, Carlyle, Wks. (Bohn), III. 315. It is not serene sunshine, but everything is seen in lurid *storm-lights.

188 1906.  Month, June, 629. That the poets … should many of them allude to the mysterious storm-lights in their poems, is not surprising.

189 1794.  Rigging & Seamanship, I. 135. *Storm Mizen. This sail is triangular, and … bends on the fore part to a horse, abaft and parallel to the mizen-mast.

190 1875.  Knight, Dict. Mech., *Storm-pane, a supplementary, framed sheet of glass, to substitute, in an emergency, for a broken pane in a lighthouse.

191 1888.  Stevenson, Across the Plains (1892), 176. The reflectors scratched, the spare lamp unready, the storm-panes in the storehouse.

192 1850.  W. R. Birt, Hurricane Guide, 55. The lower and upper branches of the *storm paths of the Northern Atlantic.

193 1875.  Knight, Dict. Mech., *Storm-pavement, the sloping stone paving which lines the sea-face of piers and breakwaters.

194 1647.  Sprigge, Anglia Rediv. (1854), 257. The line, both upon the bulwarks and the curtain was strongly set with *storm-poles.

195 1879.  Lumberman’s Gaz., 15 Oct. Houses … should be protected at every much-used entrance, by *storm-porches.

196 1869.  Ruskin, Q. of Air, i. § 20. Another beneficent *storm power, Boreas, occupies an important place in early legend.

197 1594.  Nashe, Unfort. Trav., C 4. Sailers doo pitch their apparell to make it *storme proofe.

198 1886.  N. L. Walford, Parl. Generals of Civil War, 258. There had not been sufficient time … to make them [sc. the fortifications] storm-proof.

199 1911.  J. H. Rose, Pitt & Gt. War, vii. 192. The constitution had suffered dilapidation, but it was storm-proof.

200 1840.  R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xi. We came down to double-reefed topsails and the *storm-sails.

201 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Wond-bk., Storm-sail, a sail made of stout No. 1 canvas, of reduced dimensions, for use in a gale.

202 1908.  Westm. Gaz., 18 March, 10/1. All the windows, too, have *storm-shutters.

203 1863.  in Fitzroy, Rep. Meteorologic Office (1864), p. xi. note. Drum *storm signal hoisted at noon.

204 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Storm signal, the hoisting of a danger-flag. Also, Fitzroy’s drum and cone, which show the direction of the expected gale.

205 1905.  W. O’Brien, Recoll., vii. 136. We, who knew Egan’s storm-signals, saw the tips of his ears redden and a bright scarlet point appear in the centre of his cheeks.

206 1875.  Chamb. Jrnl., 2 Jan., 8/1. *Storm-signalling apparatus is supplied by the Board of Trade.

207 1857.  M. F. Maury, in Diana F. M. Corbin, Life (1888), 135. The *storm-spencer had been blown away.

208 1491.  Acta Dom. Conc. (1839), 203/1. In the accioun … tueching þe takin of a schip & gudes … *stormestaid & drevin to þe Erlis fery.

209 1787.  Burns, Let. W. Cruikshank, June. I was storm-staid two days at the foot of the Ochill Hills.

210 1856.  Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xxii. 216. An abrupt change of the weather gave us a howling gale outside, and we were all of us storm-stayed.

211 1880.  Miss Bird, Japan, I. 344. The yadoyas are crowded with storm-staid travellers.

212 1850.  L. Hunt, Autob., II. 255. We set the fore *storm-staysail anew.

213 1513.  Douglas, Æneis, III. iii. (heading), How Troiane goddis apperis to Enee, And how that he was *stormested on the see.

214 1632.  Lithgow, Trav., III. 94. I stayed sixteene dayes, storme-sted with Northernely winds.

215 1888.  Barrie, Auld Licht Idylls, ii. 41. Storm-stead shows used to emphasize the severity of a Thrums winter.

216 1897.  Daily News, 26 Jan., 7/1. Later in the day the *storm system continued to increase in depth.

217 1838.  W. Reid, Law of Storms, 430. The *storm tracks here traced.

218 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., *Storm-trysail, a fore-and-aft sail, hoisted by a gaff, but having no boom at its foot, and only used in foul weather.

219 1867.  A. Buchan, Meteorol., 9. *Storm-warnings.

220 1883.  Encycl. Brit., XVI. 158/1. Weather Forecasts and Storm Warnings.

221 1879.  Cassell’s Techn. Educ., III. 394. *Storm-waters, as they may be called,… fall in such quantities within … an hour or two as entirely to overcharge all ordinary systems of drainage.

222 1887.  Meredith, Ball. Tragic Life, 92. Howled and pressed the ghastly crew, Like storm-waters over rocks.

223 1905.  Daily Chron., 3 July, 6/7. Heavy rain began to come down—so heavy that the storm-water sewers were not able to take it off.

224 1839.  D. Milne, in Trans. R. Soc. Edin., XIV. 486. This *storm-wave (for such it may not improperly be termed) moved … through the Atlantic in a N.NE. direction.

225 1874.  Lisle Carr, Jud. Gwynne, I. iv. 120. Her bosom would heave with a great storm-wave of passionate emotion.

226 1839.  Longf., Hyperion, I. vii. The *storm-wind came from the Alsatian hills.

227 1873.  Hamerton, Intell. Life, II. iv. (1876), 72. Like … a steamer with a storm-wind directly against her and an iron-bound coast behind.

228 1892.  G. F. X. Griffith, trans. Fouard’s St. Peter, 78. The storm-winds of trial swept over them.

229 1824.  Scott, Redgauntlet, Let. iv. There were what are called *storm-windows in the roof.

230 15[?].  Aberd. Reg. (MS.) (Jam.). The bigging of the *storme-windoik.

231 1889.  R. Hinman, Eclectic Physical Geogr., vi. 94. The regions between 40° and 70° latitude are the great *storm zones of the world.

232   e.  In names of certain birds, the movements or cries of which are supposed to presage a storm: storm-bird (a) = storm-petrel; (b) = thunder-bird b (see THUNDER sb. 6); (c) a local name (Norfolk) for the fieldfare (Swainson); storm-cock, the missel-thrush; also locally applied to the fieldfare and the green woodpecker (Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk.); storm-finch († -finck, † -fink) = storm-petrel; storm-petrel, Procellaria pelagica (cf. STORMY a. 3); storm thrush, the missel-thrush.

233   These words are sometimes used fig. to designate a person whose activity is a sign of impending discord.

234 1752.  J. Hill, Hist. Anim., 514. [The Petrel] was first mentioned in the Stockholm Transactions, under the name of Procellaria, or the *Storm-bird.

235 1867.  Goldw. Smith, 3 Eng. Statesmen (1882), 34. Lady Carlyle—a storm-bird of this parliamentary storm.

236 1913.  J. R. Harris, Boanerges, xxv. 267. The Arabian storm-bird or thunder-bird.

237 1769.  G. White, Selborne, To Barrington, 2 Nov. Missel-bird, Turdus viscivorus.… Is called in Hampshire and Sussex the *storm-cock.

238 1902.  G. Brenan, House of Percy, II. ii. 32. Charles Paget—storm-cock of Catholic agitation.

239 1661.  Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., Isagoge a 6. [Aquatic birds] as the … *stormfinck.

240 1804.  Bewick, Brit. Birds, II. 249. Stormy Petrel. Storm Finch, or Little Petrel.

241 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Storm-finch, the petrel, or Mother Cary’s chicken.

242 1833.  P. J. Selby, Illustr. Brit. Ornith., II. 533. Common *Storm-Petrel. Ibid., 537. Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel.

243 1885.  Newton, in Encycl. Brit., XVIII. 712/1. The common Storm-Petrel, Procellaria pelagica,… is the ‘Mother Carey’s chicken’ of sailors, and is widely believed to be the harbinger of bad weather.

244 1854.  Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., Storm-cock or *Storm-thrush. The missel-thrush.

245 1913.  Engl. Rev., April, 157. Like a storm-thrush piping its warning.

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