williwaw

American  

[wil-ee-waw] / ˈwɪl iˌwɔ /

noun

1. a violent squall that blows in near-polar latitudes, as in the Strait of Magellan, Alaska, and the Aleutian Islands.

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williwaw British  

/ ˈwɪlɪˌwɔː /

noun

1. a sudden strong gust of cold wind blowing offshore from a mountainous coast, as in the Strait of Magellan

2. a state of great turmoil

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Etymology

Origin of williwaw

First recorded in 1835–45; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

TEMPEST. "kicking up a great williwaw of dust." yawping. n. a strident or prattling utterance, "moldy characters and philosophical yawpings about life."

From Time Magazine Archive

The Philharmonikers have kept a stiff upper lip, but the Philadelphians, after brooding and glooming for a whole season, last week broke out in a williwaw.

From Time Magazine Archive

This williwaw raises enough of a dust-screen for Miss Warren to squeeze in the kind of songs Deanna used to sing and the title song, a very tuneful melody.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last week the Cabinet met in Paris, listened for five hours to the williwaw of conflicting opinions.

From Time Magazine Archive

On the afternoon of the tenth day on the island the sky clouded up and Mr. Gibney predicted a williwaw.

From Captain Scraggs or, The Green-Pea Pirates by Grant, Gordon