haboob

Definition

A violent duststorm or sandstorm in the deserts of Arabia, North Africa, India, or North America.

Etymology

[Alt: A large dust cloud over the city] Borrowed from Arabic هَبُوب (habūb, “strong wind, gale; haboob”), from the root ه ب ب (h b b) (“relating to wind blowing”).

Example Sentences

• "Near-synonym: duster"
• "Sandstorms were very prevalent during the first three months; they are called "Haboob." A fall in temperature of a few degrees in the hot months was always accompanied by these storms."
• "In the Central Sudan storms known as "haboobs" occur. At Khartoum in 6 years 140 haboobs occurred between May and October and 35 between November and April so that they are more frequent in the rainy season. The average duration of these storms obtained from observation of 45 haboobs at Khartoum in 3½ hours."