khamsin

Where does the word "khamsin" come from? It comes from Arabic khamsin, and was adopted directly into English (1670s-80s).

Khamsin’s story begins in Arabic: khamsin meant “fifty (days of wind).” Literally "fifty," for the roughly fifty days between winter and summer when the wind blows. It reached English by 1670s-80s as khamsin. Entered English through travel accounts of Egypt. Today, khamsin means a hot, dust-laden south or southeasterly wind that blows over Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean in spring.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval khamsin "fifty (days of wind)", literally "fifty," for the roughly fifty days between winter and summer when the wind blows.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1670s-80s khamsin "hot springtime desert wind", entered English through travel accounts of Egypt.