williwaw

[ wil-ee-waw ]

noun

1. a violent squall that blows in near-polar latitudes, as in the Strait of Magellan, Alaska, and the Aleutian Islands.

williwaw

/ ˈwɪlɪˌwɔː /

noun

1. a sudden strong gust of cold wind blowing offshore from a mountainous coast, as in the Strait of Magellan
2. a state of great turmoil

Word History and Origins

Origin of williwaw¹

First recorded in 1835–45; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of williwaw¹

C19: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Gore Vidal’s first novel was Williwaw, which he wrote while stationed on a U.S.

From Scientific American

“Santa Ana” joins a long list of names of strange and unsettling winds around the world: the khamsin, harmattan, ghibli, and sirocco … the chubasco, zonda, and Tehuantepec … the foehn, and the simoom, a word beloved of James Joyce, and for my dough, the even more splendidly named williwaw.

From Los Angeles Times

KTVA-television reports John-Rexie Lagman is charged with felony assault in the shooting of a 16-year-old boy Tuesday night at Williwaw Elementary School.

From Seattle Times

The child’s name was not released immediately after the Tuesday night shooting at Williwaw Elementary School.

From Seattle Times

The manager for folk band Blackwater Railroad Company says the proposed concert at Williwaw Lakes was intended to provide an intimate, outdoor experience encouraging conservation.

From Washington Times