A hot, dry wind that blows in Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean for about fifty days during spring, often carrying dust and sand. The wind typically occurs between March and May and can significantly affect weather and visibility.
From Arabic khamsīn, meaning 'fifty,' referring to the approximately fifty-day period during which this wind typically blows in spring. The word entered English through contact with Egypt and the Levant in the 19th century. The Arabic name reflects careful observation of this seasonal weather pattern.
Khamsin literally means 'fifty' because ancient Arabs counted exactly how many days this wind blows each spring! This shows how precisely desert peoples observed weather patterns - they needed this knowledge for survival in harsh climates.
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