simoom

/ sɪˈmuːn; sɪˈmuːm /

noun

1. a strong suffocating sand-laden wind of the deserts of Arabia and North Africa Also calledsamiel

Word History and Origins

Origin of simoom¹

from Arabic samūm poisonous, from sam poison, from Aramaic sammā poison

Example Sentences

Besides, the wind called the simoom raised such clouds of dust that whole caravans were sometimes buried in the sand.

From Project Gutenberg

In the choking breath of the simoom he feels the potentialities of God, and his own helpless impotence.

From Project Gutenberg

That wind of the desert, says Bonazzi, that simoom of Pontifical dominion did not pass over our city in vain.

From Project Gutenberg

Cooley stayed there until five o'clock in the afternoon waiting for the simoom to swoop down upon him.

From Project Gutenberg

On another occasion we met the simoom, the purple haze in rushing past threatening suffocation.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• sandstorm