williwaw
- noun
- /ˈwɪliˌwɔ/
- Specialized
:
viento catabático
- As the storm approached, a sudden williwaw caught the crew off guard, sending them scrambling to secure the sails.
Examples
-
The williwaw swept through the harbor, causing boats to sway violently in the frigid waters.
-
She peeled the paper off its post like someone fishing a dead rat from behind the refrigerator and turned on her heel, heading for the Shoreside Lounge like a williwaw wading into the Bering Sea.
Fiction book (1999) -
Sailors must be cautious of the williwaw, as it can appear unexpectedly, bringing frigid gusts from the mountains.
Synonyms
58
2.6
A sudden strong burst of wind
9
4.0
A strong spinning column of air that lifts dust and leaves
A cold wind that moves down a mountain slope
A very strong wind that blows hard
How Strong
Surface Forms
Etymology
Williwaw probably began as a sailors' word and even sounds like the wind itself, as if it imitates a sudden blast. It was used for a sudden, violent cold gust that falls down from coastal mountains, especially in polar regions, so a williwaw means a quick, powerful downrush of wind, like a 'gust' or 'blast'.