A cold, dry, northerly wind that blows across central Europe, particularly in winter and early spring.
From French 'bise,' possibly derived from Latin 'bis' (twice) or Germanic roots. The word entered English through weather terminology used by travelers and sailors in Alpine regions.
The bise is so famous in Swiss and French weather patterns that it has its own name while most winds don't—it's cold enough and consistent enough that locals describe it as a character, even blaming it for bad moods.
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