gale

noun

• 1a very strong wind:it was almost blowing a gale [as modifier]:gale-force winds
• Meteorology a wind of force 7 to 10 on the Beaufort scale (28-55 knots or 32-63 mph).
• a storm at sea.

• 2 (a gale of/gales of) a burst of sound, especially of laughter:she collapsed into gales of laughter