black squall: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Specialized/Nautical/Literary)Literary, Nautical, Formal
Quick answer
What does “black squall” mean?
A sudden, violent squall of wind accompanied by intense darkness due to dense clouds.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sudden, violent squall of wind accompanied by intense darkness due to dense clouds.
Used metaphorically to describe a sudden onset of trouble, danger, or calamity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties understand the term, but it is slightly more likely to appear in British literary sources due to historical maritime tradition.
Connotations
Carries connotations of sudden, overwhelming danger and primal force. In metaphorical use, it implies an unforeseen and devastating crisis.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general corpora. Highest frequency in 19th-century literature and historical nautical accounts.
Grammar
How to Use “black squall” in a Sentence
[Ship/We] encountered/ran into/sailed into a black squall.A black squall descended upon/swept over [the vessel/the coast].The [approaching/impending] black squall promised [destruction/difficulty].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “black squall” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The lookouts failed to spot the black squall bearing down from the east.
- Conrad's prose vividly describes the horror of a black squall at midnight.
American English
- The old sailor's tale always featured a mysterious black squall off Cape Hatteras.
- Their financial ruin hit like a black squall, sudden and complete.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'The company faced a black squall of regulatory changes and plummeting sales.'
Academic
Descriptive in historical or meteorological contexts: 'The diary records the terrifying passage through a black squall in the South Atlantic.'
Everyday
Rare. Possibly hyperbolic: 'Their argument came on like a black squall, ruining the evening.'
Technical
Nautical/Meteorological: 'A black squall is characterized by a rapid drop in visibility and a sharp increase in wind velocity.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “black squall”
- Using it for any minor storm or rain shower (it implies exceptional suddenness and darkness).
- Confusing it with 'black blizzard' (dust storm).
- Misspelling as 'black sqall'.
- Overusing the metaphor in casual speech.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic or literary term. Modern meteorology uses more precise terms like 'microburst' or 'severe squall', though sailors may still use 'squall' descriptively.
Its core meaning is maritime, but its metaphorical use can apply to any sudden disaster. Literal use for a land storm would be poetic or archaic.
The 'black' refers to the dramatic darkening of the sky caused by the exceptionally dense, low-hanging clouds associated with the most violent type of squall.
A 'black squall' is a specific, intense type of squall marked by a sudden and profound darkness, often considered more dangerous and sudden than an ordinary squall.
A sudden, violent squall of wind accompanied by intense darkness due to dense clouds.
Black squall is usually literary, nautical, formal in register.
Black squall: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈskwɔːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈskwɑːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A black squall on the horizon (metaphor for impending disaster)”
- “Weather the black squall (to survive a major crisis).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a sailing ship suddenly enveloped in pitch BLACKness by a violent SQUALL of wind and rain.
Conceptual Metaphor
DANGER IS A STORM / SUDDEN TROUBLE IS A SUDDEN WEATHER EVENT
Practice
Quiz
In a metaphorical sense, 'black squall' most closely refers to: