nor'wester

American  

[nawr-wes-ter] / ˌnɔrˈwɛs tər /

noun

1. contraction of northwester.

2. sou'wester.

---

nor'wester British  

/ ˌnɔːˈwɛstə /

noun

1. a less common name for sou'wester

2. a drink of strong liquor

3. a strong northwest wind

4. a hot dry wind from the Southern Alps

---

Etymology

Origin of nor'wester

First recorded in 1695–1705; nor(th)wester

Example Sentences

The nor'wester -- a weather pattern that develops in the Bay of Bengal during the summer -- struck the states of Bihar and West Bengal on April 13, killing 137 people.

From Reuters • Apr. 22, 2010

The nor'wester blowing, at the time, at the rate of forty miles an hour, increased to eighty or ninety miles by March 2nd.

From Voyage of the Liberdade by Slocum, Joshua

Then the nor’wester caught us and drove us on the lee shore. 

From Adventure by London, Jack

"You'll be all right soon; we have been getting the tail-end of a big nor'wester."

From Sandy by Rice, Alice Caldwell Hegan

They reach'd the grounds, but scarce had turn'd  Upon the homeward track, When came the wild nor'wester down  On their frail fishing smack.

From Canada and Other Poems by Young, T. F. (Thomas Frederick)