harmattan

3 definitions found

harmattan - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Harmattan \Har*mat"tan\ (h[aum]r*m[a^]t"tan), n. [F. harmattan,
     prob. of Arabic origin.]
     A dry, hot wind, prevailing on the Atlantic coast of Africa,
     in December, January, and February, blowing from the interior
     or Sahara. It is usually accompanied by a haze which obscures
     the sun.
     [1913 Webster]

  Sirocco \Si*roc"co\ (s[i^]*r[o^]k"k[-o]), n.; pl. Siroccos
     (s[i^]*r[o^]k"k[=o]z). [It. sirocco, scirocco, Ar. shorug,
     fr. sharq the rising of the sun, the east, fr, sharaca to
     rise as the sun. Cf. Saracen.]
     1. An oppressive, relaxing wind from the Libyan deserts,
        chiefly experienced in Italy, Malta, and Sicily.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. In general, any hot dry wind of cyclonic origin, blowing
        from arid or heated regions, including the desert wind of
        Southern California, the harmattan of the west coasts of
        Africa, the hot winds of Kansas and Texas, the kamsin of
        Egypt, the leste of the Madeira Islands, and the
        leveche of Spain.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

harmattan - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  harmattan
      n 1: a dusty wind from the Sahara that blows toward the western
           coast of Africa during the winter