dust devil
noun
a small whirlwind 10–100 feet (3–30 meters) in diameter and from several hundred to 1000 feet (305 meters) high, common in dry regions on hot, calm afternoons and made visible by the dust, debris, and sand it picks up from the ground.
Also called
dust whirl.
Origin of dust devil
First recorded in 1890–95
Words nearby dust devil
dust catcher,
dust cell,
dust coat,
dust counter,
dust cover,
dust devil,
dust down,
dust explosion,
dust gun,
dust head,
dust jacket
Example sentences from the Web for dust devil
Perchance, for no mere erratic “dust-devil” is yonder cloud.
Aletta |Bertram MitfordYour enemy comes upon you like a dust-devil—he appears, strikes, wins or loses, and then disappears again as suddenly as he came.
On the Heels of De Wet |The Intelligence Officer
British Dictionary definitions for dust devil
dust devil
noun
a strong miniature whirlwind that whips up dust, litter, leaves, etc into the air