willy-willy

American  

[wil-ee-wil-ee] / ˈwɪl iˌwɪl i /

noun

Australian,

plural

willy-willies

1. dust devil.

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

2. tropical cyclone.

   another willy-willy forming over the Timor Sea.

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willy-willy British  

/ ˈwɪlɪˈwɪlɪ /

noun

1. a duststorm

2. obsolete a tropical cyclone

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Etymology

Origin of willy-willy

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