harmattan
NounUS[hahr-muh-tan]/ˌhɑrməˈtæn/3 syllables
Open English WordNet
Noun (1)
- a dusty wind from the Sahara that blows toward the western coast of Africa during the winterType of wind, air current
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haphazardadjective
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Har·mat′tan (här-măt′tan), noun
Origin: 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.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54