pampero

American  

[pahm-pair-oh, pam-, pahm-pe-raw] / pɑmˈpɛər oʊ, pæm-, pɑmˈpɛ rɔ /

noun

plural

pamperos

1. a cold and dry southwesterly wind that sweeps down over the pampas of Argentina from the Andes.

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pampero British  

/ pamˈpero, pæmˈpɛərəʊ /

noun

1. a dry cold wind in South America blowing across the pampas from the south or southwest

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Etymology

Origin of pampero

First recorded in 1810–20; from Latin American Spanish: literally, “of the pampas”

Explanation

A pampero is a type of strong wind, often bringing thunder, lightning, and rain, that frequently blows across the grasslands of Argentina and neighboring countries in South America. The word pampero comes from pampas, the broad grassy plains that cover Uruguay and parts of Argentina, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. Bursts of cold air from Antarctica or from the nearby Andes mountain range sweep across these plains. The winds are often dry, but other times bring wet weather and thunderstorms. Pamperos are most common in the southern hemisphere's winter (roughly May through August), and they can sometimes be destructive, so if you're in the neighborhood when the season starts, make sure all your doors and windows are closed.

Example Sentences

The bullet pinked the beast between the eyes, but miraculously he bounded across the deck, roaring like a pampero.

From Time Magazine Archive

The least spark of fire then suffices to create a mighty blaze, especially if accompanied by the pampero wind, which blows with irresistible force in its sweep over hundreds of miles of level ground.

From Through Five Republics on Horseback, Being an Account of Many Wanderings in South America by Ray, G. Whitfield

The pampero, dreaded on shore as well as at sea, blows with tremendous force across this region.

From The Western World Picturesque Sketches of Nature and Natural History in North and South America by Kingston, William Henry Giles

You may be sure he likes well his situation, and finds the duties of a Minister Extraordinary much preferable to leading the retreat of a pampero expedition.'

From The Adventures of My Cousin Smooth by Templeton, Timothy

The pampero is a dry, cold wind, exceedingly violent.

From The Naturalist in La Plata by Hudson, W. H. (William Henry)