sirocco

[ suh-rok-oh ]

noun

, plural si·roc·cos.

1. a hot, dry, dustladen wind blowing from northern Africa and affecting parts of southern Europe.
2. a warm, sultry south or southeast wind accompanied by rain, occurring in the same regions.
3. any hot, oppressive wind, especially one in the warm sector of a cyclone.

sirocco

/ sɪˈrɒkəʊ /

noun

1. a hot oppressive and often dusty wind usually occurring in spring, beginning in N Africa and reaching S Europe
2. any hot southerly wind, esp one moving to a low pressure centre

Word History and Origins

Origin of sirocco¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Italian, variant of scirocco, from Arabic sharq “east”

Word History and Origins

Origin of sirocco¹

C17: from Italian, from Arabic sharq east wind

Example Sentences

As locals will tell you, nature is in charge here, and when a sirocco hits, you have to go with the flow.

From New York Times

Like their master, the South Wind, they were conflicted—half hot, dry sirocco, half stormy thunderhead.

From Literature

On this occasion, though, we are all so in the thrall of Driver, who breezes in and out of “Burn This” like a sirocco, that we believe in his ability to turn Anna’s head.

From Washington Post

In the hearth at the north wall a large fire cracked and lisped, flushing the room with a dry sirocco that caused frozen skin to tingle.

From Literature

Franco looks way too young compared with Kidman, for one thing, and his British accent comes and goes, like the sirocco.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• sandstorm