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harmattan

[ hahr-muh-tan ]
/ ˌhɑr məˈtæn /
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noun
(on the west coast of Africa) a dry, parching land breeze, charged with dust.
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Origin of harmattan

1665–75; said to be <Twi haramata

Words nearby harmattan

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use harmattan in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for harmattan

harmattan
/ (hɑːˈmætən) /

noun
a dry dusty wind from the Sahara blowing towards the W African coast, esp from November to March

Word Origin for harmattan

C17: from Twi haramata, perhaps from Arabic harām forbidden thing; see harem
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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