har·mat·tan (här m -t n , här-mtn)n. A dry dusty wind that blows along the northwest coast of Africa. [Akan (Twi) haramata, possibly from Arabic  ar m, evil thing, from arama, to prohibit; see rm in Semitic roots.] |
harmattan [hɑːˈmætən]
n
(Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) a dry dusty wind from the Sahara blowing towards the W African coast, esp from November to March
[from Twi haramata, perhaps from Arabic harām forbidden thing; see harem]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | harmattan - a dusty wind from the Sahara that blows toward the western coast of Africa during the winter air current, current of air, wind - air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure; "trees bent under the fierce winds"; "when there is no wind, row"; "the radioactivity was being swept upwards by the air current and out into the atmosphere" |
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