brew v OED ~ v 4 c '[to bring about] natural phenomena, as rain, wind, a storm' (1530-1765) for sense 1; cp GALE v.
   1 Of imminent weather disturbance and signs thought to presage it.
   1863 HIND ii, 203 [The seals] often stop to sport when they find a favourable place for the purpose. It is then they are seen to dive repeatedly, coming up again almost immediately, and to roll themselves about, and beat the water with their hands. The fishermen call this brewing. 1904 Harper's cviii, 856 The schooners ride at anchor with harbor near at hand; while the gales are brewing, they fly to shelter. [1937 DEVINE 67 Old seals jumping and making for the water is a sign of wind and snow.] C 69-19 Whenever some of the youngsters would get exceptionally playful and make a lot of noise my mother would always say 'You're galing for wind tonight. You can look out for the storm tomorrow.' By this she meant that the youngsters were brewing for a storm. 1971 CASEY 135 'The sky was red in the East this morning, so I knew the wind was brewin'.'
   2 To come down with a cold.
   C 70-15 I often heard [her] say whenever somebody was getting a cold, 'I know you're brewing a cold because you are all mops and brooms.'

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