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Khamsin

2 stages from Arabic to English.

Today it means a hot, dust-laden south or southeasterly wind that blows over Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean in spring

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

khamsin→khamsin

Arabic · medieval

"fifty (days of wind)"

literally "fifty," for the roughly fifty days between winter and summer when the wind blows

English · 1670s-80s

"hot springtime desert wind"

entered English through travel accounts of Egypt

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