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

Another dust devil was filmed travelling a short distance in a field in Wistow, between Cambridge and Peterborough.

From BBC

LaRiccia and Black, both 28, were attached to the parachute when it deployed without issue, but as they neared the ground, the pair encountered a “dust devil” that caused turbulence and send them into a “hard landing,” according to the management with Skydive Perris.

From Los Angeles Times

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a skydiving accident in Riverside County in which an instructor and her student died after a “dust devil” reportedly sent them crashing into the ground.

From Los Angeles Times

A “dust devil” is a rotation of hot air and dirt or debris that looks like a small, less-intense version of a tornado, according to the National Weather Service.

From Los Angeles Times

“Dust devil alert! Dust devil alert! You need to pull Fly out of the air and get him back inside your chambers.”

From Literature

Related Words

• sandstorm