squall

The story

1. Old Norse · derived fromskvala“to cry out”
2. Middle English · inherited from*squalen
3. English todaysquall

From Middle English *squalen 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.

Words from the same roots