Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Nautical, the advantage of the wind; the position of a ship when she is to windward of another ship: opposed to lee-gage.
- noun Hence Advantage of position; the upper hand.
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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“Pay your bills, first,” said the Admiral, taking the weather-gage of the discussion: “a little bird tells me that you owe a good trifle, even in Springhaven.”
Springhaven Richard Doddridge 2004
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We lost no time in getting sail on the schooner; and now Captain Moncrieff regretted that instead of running in towards the land he had not adopted means during the night of getting the weather-gage, when he could have laughed at the efforts of the Guarda Costa to interrupt our voyage.
Jack in the Forecastle or, Incidents in the Early Life of Hawser Martingale John Sherburne Sleeper
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Having got the weather-gage, the boats are lowered; sail is immediately set, and, like swift huge-winged birds, they swoop down upon the prey.
Short Stories and Selections for Use in the Secondary Schools Emilie Kip Baker
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R---- gave me a wink, as much as to say, "I have the weather-gage of him."
A Yacht Voyage to Norway, Denmark, and Sweden 2nd edition William A. Ross
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But Hubert owed his success to the skill with which he manoeuvred for the weather-gage, and his victory was not less brilliant than momentous.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 4 "Bulgaria" to "Calgary" Various
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Directly they were past the point, "and felt smooth water," they obtained the weather-gage, exchanged a few shots, and dropped their anchors, keeping well to windward of the enemy.
On the Spanish Main Or, Some English forays on the Isthmus of Darien. John Masefield 1922
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Castle, affords perhaps the earliest instance of maneuvering for the weather-gage.
A History of Sea Power William Oliver Stevens 1916
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Still, the Armada had one advantage left, the weather-gage; for the southwest wind was piping up again, blowing from the Armada to the English.
Flag and Fleet How the British Navy Won the Freedom of the Seas William Charles Henry Wood 1905
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For two days they kept out of range of each other, manoeuvring for the weather-gage; that is, the French fleet, being to windward of the British, strove to keep that position, while the British endeavored to take it from them.
The Naval History of the United States Volume 1 (of 2) Willis J. Abbot 1898
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The "Hornet" was immediately cleared for action; and the two hostile vessels began manoeuvring for the weather-gage, as two scientific pugilists spar cautiously for an opening.
The Naval History of the United States Volume 1 (of 2) Willis J. Abbot 1898
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