weather-gaw
/ˈwɛðəɹˌɡɔ/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.13 in modern English
20
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
An instance of some phenomenon in the sky said to signal bad weather, such as an incomplete or secondary rainbow, or a parhelion or sun dog; a weather-gall or water-gall.
British usage
Example Sentences
- "They asked Wattie, who was a very religious man, what could have induced him to gather his sheep on the Sabbath day? He answered, that he had seen an ill-hued weather-gaw that morning, and was afraid it was going to be a drift."
- "[S]ee how much heavier the clouds fall every moment, and see these weather-gaws that streak the lead-coloured mass with partial gleams of faded red and purple."
- "‘The weather-gaw’ he scans above the hill, / Wherein the rainbow's hues with watery sheen / Gleam beautiful upon the grey-dark sky, / Yet ominous of storm; […]"
- "Weather-gaw, part of a rainbow seen, the greater part of the bow being intercepted."
- "The weather's taking up now, / For yonder's the weather gaw; / How bonny is the east now! / Now the colours fade awa'."
- "After supper I'll take you home—if the weather keeps good-humoured. Those weather-gaws aren't out for nothing. It'll rain cats and dogs to-morrow."
Etymology
Origin
- Source language: English
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈwɛðəɹˌɡɔ/
- British English: /ˈwɛðəɡɔː/
Usage
- British usage