high sea

See also: high seas

English

Etymology

From Middle English hey see, hey se, from Old English hēahsǣ (“the high sea, the deep”), equivalent to high +‎ sea.

Noun

high sea (plural high seas)

1. The sea when it is very rough due to strong winds and storms, such that the sea encroaches much further inland than is normal, often causing damage.

   The ship eventually broke in half in high sea and winds.