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 lúlla (“to lull”).
1
A period of rest or soothing.
2
A period of reduced activity; a respite.
After this departure there is a lull—one can almost feel the weary station breathing thankfulness!—broken only by the car-sleeper departing at 10.25 from Platform 6 […]. There is normally another lull from 1.45 to 4.30 a.m. till the daily round begins again, […].1959 October 23, T. W. E. Roche, “Traffic Working at Dover Marine Station”, in Railway Magazine, page 682:
[…] 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:
1 more example
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
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports, 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, page 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)
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 lúlla (“to lull”).
1
To cause to rest by soothing influences; to compose; to calm
To lull him soft a sleepe1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto V”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 30:
Such ſweet compulſion doth in muſick ly, / To lull the daughers of Neceſſity,1634, John Milton, “Arcades”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC, page 54:
1 more example
To lull with song an aching heart1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXXVII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 57:
2
To become gradually calm; to subside; to cease or abate.
The storm lulled.
3
To give somebody a false sense of security so that an unpleasant situation takes the person by surprise.