Roaring forties

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?r?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]