lull

Etymology

From Middle English lullen, lollen. Originally, perhaps expressive in origin from la-la-la or lu-lu-lu sounds made in calming a child. Compare Finnish laulaa (to sing) and Hiligaynon lala (to sing a lullaby). Cognate with Scots lul, lule, loll (“to lull, put to sleep, howl, caterwaul”), Dutch lollen (“to sing badly, caterwaul”), Dutch lullen (“to chatter, prate, cheat, deceive”), Low German lullen (“to lull”), German lullen (“to lull”), Danish lulle (“to lull, sing to sleep”), Swedish lulla (“to lull”), Icelandic lulla (“to lull”).

noun

1. A period of rest or soothing.
2. A period of reduced activity; a respite
3. (nautical) A period without waves or wind.
   […] during the lull, wind shifted to S. E. […] 1839, The Nautical Magazine and Naval Chronicle for 1839, page 26
   After the lull the wind does not appear to have blown with any great strength […] 1875, W. G. Wilson, Report of the Midnapore and Burdwan Cyclone of the 15th and 16th of October 1874, page 74
   The air under each cloud has spent time near the surface, has been slowed and backed by friction—it is a lull. 2016, David Houghton, Fiona Campbell, Wind Strategy, not paginated
4. (surfing) An extended pause between sets of waves.
   It is advisable to leave the surf zone during the lull between sets of larger waves, waiting outside the surf zone for a lull. 1992, John Warlaumont, The Noaa Diving Manual, pages 19–19
   About 2 hours in, a long lull cleared everyone out, and then it started getting a little more consistent and pushing chest ta neck high. 808surfer.com forum (password needed)

verb

1. (transitive) To cause to rest by soothing influences; to compose; to calm
2. (intransitive) To become gradually calm; to subside; to cease or abate.
   The storm lulled.