'Roaring forties' definitions:

Definition of 'Roaring forties'

From: GCIDE
  • Roar \Roar\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Roared; p. pr. & vvb. n. Roaring.] [OE. roren, raren, AS. r[=a]rian; akin to G. r["o]hten, OHG. r[=e]r[=e]n. [root]112.]
  • 1. To cry with a full, loud, continued sound. Specifically: (a) To bellow, or utter a deep, loud cry, as a lion or other beast. [1913 Webster]
  • Roaring bulls he would him make to tame. --Spenser. [1913 Webster] (b) To cry loudly, as in pain, distress, or anger. [1913 Webster]
  • Sole on the barren sands, the suffering chief Roared out for anguish, and indulged his grief. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • He scorned to roar under the impressions of a finite anger. --South. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To make a loud, confused sound, as winds, waves, passing vehicles, a crowd of persons when shouting together, or the like. [1913 Webster]
  • The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • How oft I crossed where carts and coaches roar. --Gay. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To be boisterous; to be disorderly. [1913 Webster]
  • It was a mad, roaring time, full of extravagance. --Bp. Burnet. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To laugh out loudly and continuously; as, the hearers roared at his jokes. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. To make a loud noise in breathing, as horses having a certain disease. See Roaring, 2. [1913 Webster]
  • Roaring boy, a roaring, noisy fellow; -- name given, at the latter end Queen Elizabeth's reign, to the riotous fellows who raised disturbances in the street. "Two roaring boys of Rome, that made all split." --Beau. & Fl.
  • Roaring forties (Naut.), a sailor's name for the stormy tract of ocean between 40[deg] and 50[deg] north latitude. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Roaring forties'

From: GCIDE
  • Roaring forties \Roar"ing for"ties\ (Naut.) The middle latitudes of the southern hemisphere. So called from the boisterous and prevailing westerly winds, which are especially strong in the South Indian Ocean up to 50[deg] S. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]