khamsin

American  

[kam-seen, kam-sin] / kæmˈsin, ˈkæm sɪn /

noun

1. a hot southerly wind, varying from southeast to southwest, that blows regularly in Egypt and over the Red Sea for about 50 days, commencing about the middle of March.

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khamsin British  

/ kæmˈsiːn, ˈkæmsɪn /

noun

1. a hot southerly wind blowing from about March to May, esp in Egypt

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Etymology

Origin of khamsin

First recorded in 1675–85, khamsin is from the Arabic word khamsīn literally, fifty

Example Sentences

Judges in some Arab countries take a lenient attitude toward crimes committed during the khamsin.

From Time Magazine Archive

Jerusalem has up to 150 days of khamsin a year, during which time temperatures soar above 90� while the relative humidity plummets toward zero.

From Time Magazine Archive

The khamsin is a baleful wind that flares out of the deserts, drying out the land and the people until the flesh fairly crackles.

From Time Magazine Archive

But for the moment no khamsin was blowing, no dreadful sandstorm to grind up men and machines.

From Time Magazine Archive

This was, unfortunately, exposed to the north-west winds, burning winds like the mistral of Italy and Provence, the khamsin of Egypt, etc.

From The Life of Captain Matthew Flinders by Scott, Ernest

Related Words

• sandstorm