What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Swale vs Squall - What's the difference?

swale | squall |

As nouns the difference between swale and squall

is that swale is a low tract of moist or marshy land or swale can be (uk|dialect) a gutter in a candle while squall is a squall line, multicell line, or part of a squall line.

As verbs the difference between swale and squall

is that swale is (melt and waste away, or singe) while squall is to cry or wail loudly.

swale

English

Etymology 1

, from (etyl), "shade", perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to (etyl) svalr

Noun

(en noun)
  • A low tract of moist or marshy land.
  • A long narrow and shallow trough between ridges on a beach, running parallel to the coastline.
  • A shallow troughlike depression that's created to carry water during rainstorms or snow melts; a drainage ditch.
  • A shallow, usually grassy depression sloping downward from a plains upland meadow or level vegetated ridgetop.
  • *
    • Jane climbed a few more paces behind him and then peeped over the ridge. Just beyond began a shallow swale that deepened and widened into a valley, and then swung to the left.
  • A shallow trough dug into the land on contour (horizontally with no slope). Its purpose being to allow water time to percolate into the soil.

    • Etymology 2

    See sweal.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (UK, dialect) A gutter in a candle.

    • Verb

    (swal)
  • (melt and waste away, or singe)

    • Anagrams

    *

    squall

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A squall line, multicell line, or part of a squall line.
  • A sudden storm, as found in a squall line. Often a nautical usage.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cry or wail loudly.
  • * 1883 , (Robert Louis Stevenson), (Treasure Island) :
    • Squalling was the word for it, Pew's anger rose so high at these objections; till at last, his passion completely taking the upper hand, he struck at them right and left in his blindness, and his stick sounded heavily on more than one.
  • * 1916 , (Jack London), The Red One :
    • Squalling like an infuriated cat, the shadow crashed down
  • * 1998 , (Anne McCafferey), Masterharper of Pern :
    • she wrapped the squalling , wriggling baby tightly into the fine cotton sheet

    Derived terms

    * squaller * squally