breeze n Cp SMYTH 133 'among seamen [breeze] is usually applied as synonymous with wind in general, whether weak or strong.' A strong wind, gale; cp STORM 1.
   1842 JUKES ii, 162 We met a fleet of boats, large and small, with mainsails down, foresails reefed, and every sign of a heavy breeze blowing. 1861 DE BOILIEU 45 ... or else we shall have a breeze springing up, and mayhap, lose all our nets. 1921 FPU (Twillingate) Minutes 1 Nov [He] then spoke of the big loss that some people ... have had on account of the big gale [and] of some men belong[ing] to a Carbonear schooner which had to leave her in the breeze. 1924 ENGLAND 134 Some odd turn of thought makes many of the Newfoundlanders use diminutives. A gale becomes a 'breeze,' oars are 'paddles.' T 55/6-64 Twice lost, wrecked in the September breeze, gale—big sea, you know. T 389/90-67 Such a tremendous breeze. You'd never think anything'd live on the water— tremendous breeze o' wind. 1976 Evening Telegram 17 June, p. 3 'The lobster fishery was excellent in this area before the breeze struck!' he said. . . 'Older people say it was the biggest [wind] and sea in years.' 1979 NEMEC 254 Generated in some cases by Caribbean hurricanes, 'storms of wind,' 'breezes,' or 'August Gales' as they are variously called, can create not only rough surface seas, but cause a general mixing of inshore waters such that major temperature changes take place.

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