A hot, dry, dust-laden wind that blows from the Sahara across North Africa and the Mediterranean region, typically in spring and early summer.
From Arabic 'khamsin' (خمسين) meaning 'fifty,' traditionally referring to a 50-day wind season. The word entered European languages through direct contact with Arab traders and travelers.
The chamsin is so powerful that ancient Egyptians built entire fortifications against it—dust storms can reduce visibility to a few feet and raise temperatures 20+ degrees in hours, making it one of nature's most feared winds.
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