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Simoom

2 stages from Arabic to English.

Today it means a hot, dry, dust-laden desert wind in Arabia and the Sahara

Where does the word "simoom" come from? It comes from Arabic samma / samum, adopted directly into English (1790).

samma / samum→simoom

Arabic · medieval

"poisonous wind"

from sam, "poison"; samma meant "he poisoned"

English · 1790

"hot, dry desert windstorm"

entered English travel writing describing the deadly desert wind

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