khamsin en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /kæmˈsin/
- /ˈkæm.sɪn/
Etymology
From Egyptian Arabic خَمْسِين (ḵamsīn, “fifty”); see khamaseen for more.
Meanings
-
A hot, dry wind, common in Egypt, Sudan and the Levant towards the end of March and April, which blows (for about 50 days each year) from the desert, bringing with it hot weather and sand / sandstorms.
That second spring the khamseen was worse than I have ever known it before or since.
1957, Lawrence Durrell, Justine, Faber, published 1968, page 121:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| chamsin | alternative | lexicographic | |
| kamsin | alternative | lexicographic | |
| kamseen | alternative | lexicographic | |
| hamsin | alternative | lexicographic | |
| khamseen | alternative | lexicographic | |
| khamaseen | alternative | lexicographic | |
| khamsins | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Synonyms
Translations (7)
cop ⲑⲟⲩⲣⲏⲥ (a hot wind in Egypt) · fa خمسین (a hot wind in Egypt) · he חַמְסִין (a hot wind in Egypt) · hi ख़मसीन (a hot wind in Egypt) · ar خَمْسِين (a hot wind in Egypt) · tr hamsin (a hot wind in Egypt) · eo ĥamsino (a hot wind in Egypt)