prettygoodword: text: words are sexy (Default)
prettygoodword ([personal profile] prettygoodword) wrote2006-08-04 07:09 am

simoon & haboob

simoon - n., a strong, hot, sand-laden wind of the Sahara and Arabian deserts.

haboob - n., a penetrating sandstorm or dust storm with violent winds.


Sudan is noted for haboobs, but they also occur in Arabia, India, and Arizona -- on the strong gust front of a thunderstorm coming out of the desert. Simoon is from Arabic sammu, from samma, to poison, from Aramaic samma, drug, poison; haboob from Arabic habub, strong wind, from habba, to rush, blow. From which we can tell the latter is better to have.

---L.