willy-willy

[ wil-ee-wil-ee ]

noun

, Australian,

, plural wil·ly-wil·lies.

1. dust devil ( def ):

   A column of dust, held aloft by a willy-willy, rises high into the air in South Australia.

2. tropical cyclone ( def ):

   another willy-willy forming over the Timor Sea.

willy-willy

/ ˈwɪlɪˈwɪlɪ /

noun

1. a duststorm
2. obsolete.
   a tropical cyclone

Word History and Origins

Origin of willy-willy¹

First recorded in 1890–95; of obscure origin; probably from an Australian Aboriginal language

Word History and Origins

Origin of willy-willy¹

from a native Australian language

Example Sentences

Land of politicians silly, Home of wind and willy-willy, Land of blanket tent and billy Westralia.

From Time Magazine Archive

Australians call it willy-willy; Filipinos, baguios; Chinese, tai-fun; Indians, typhoon.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Tree of mine, tree of mine, Have you seen a girl With a willy-willy wag, and a long-tailed bag, Who's stole my money, all I had?"

From Project Gutenberg

When the old witch came up, she looked about and said to the cow: "Cow of mine, cow of mine, Have you seen a girl With a willy-willy wag, and a long-tailed bag, Who's stole my money, all I had?"

From Project Gutenberg

When the witch came up she said: "Tree of mine, tree of mine, Have you seen a girl With a willy-willy wag, and a long-tailed bag, Who stole my money, all I had?"

From Project Gutenberg