willy-willy

[wil-ee-wil-ee]

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.

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