dust devil

[ duhst dev-uhl ]

noun

, Meteorology.

1. a well-developed dust whirl with a diameter of about 10–100 feet (3–30 meters), rotating either clockwise or counterclockwise, common in dry regions on hot, calm afternoons and made visible by the dust, debris, and sand it picks up from the ground: dust devils on average are about 660 feet (200 meters) tall, but some have exceeded a height of 3,280 feet (1 kilometer):

   We noticed the base of the dust devil following a direct path along the ground, but its uppermost portion was meandering wildly.

dust devil

noun

1. a strong miniature whirlwind that whips up dust, litter, leaves, etc into the air

Word History and Origins

Origin of dust devil¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Unlike tornadoes, dust devils grow upwards from the ground rather than down from clouds, and they last for only a few minutes.

From BBC

There was an extreme heat advisory in effect for parts of Riverside County on the day of the accident, but dust devils can form in all types of conditions, Munyan said.

From Los Angeles Times

The winter before last, my wife and I were driving back to L.A. from Mammoth when our car began veering across the lane markers as dust devils rose from the desert floor.

From Los Angeles Times

Behind them stood their mounts, Arabian stallions—faster than dust devils and nimbler than Athena’s thimble.

From Literature

It is the same feeling that flooded my system when I learned about the dust devils on Mars.

From Literature

Related Words

• sandstorm