khamsin

[ kam-seen, kam-sin ]

noun

1. a hot southerly wind, varying from southeast to southwest, that blows regularly in Egypt and over the Red Sea for about 50 days, commencing about the middle of March.

khamsin

/ kæmˈsiːn; ˈkæmsɪn /

noun

1. a hot southerly wind blowing from about March to May, esp in Egypt

Word History and Origins

Origin of khamsin¹

First recorded in 1675–85, khamsin is from the Arabic word khamsīn literally, fifty

Word History and Origins

Origin of khamsin¹

C17: from Arabic, literally: fifty

Example Sentences

In summer, it is swept by dust storms with wind speeds as high as forty miles an hour, known as the khamsin, and temperatures can top a hundred and twenty degrees.

From The New Yorker

During a khamsin the temperature is high and the air extremely dry, while the dust and sand carried by the wind form a thick yellow fog obscuring the sun.

From Project Gutenberg

The khamsin blew in hot, sandy spurts, and lulled; then came again in hotter, more shrivelling bursts "From Hell!" thought the troopers, one and all.

From Project Gutenberg

The heat was increasing and the desert winds brought the "khamsin" or duststorms.

From Project Gutenberg

It was another very hot day, with a khamsin blowing, and the hard, shelterless hill-sides were a poor place to spend it on.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• sandstorm