Sirocco

n.; pl. Siroccos [ It. sirocco, scirocco, Ar. shorug, fr. sharq the rising of the sun, the east, fr, sharaca to rise as the sun. Cf. Saracen. ] 1. An oppressive, relaxing wind from the Libyan deserts, chiefly experienced in Italy, Malta, and Sicily. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In general, any hot dry wind of cyclonic origin, blowing from arid or heated regions, including the desert wind of Southern California, the harmattan of the west coasts of Africa, the hot winds of Kansas and Texas, the kamsin of Egypt, the leste of the Madeira Islands, and the leveche of Spain. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]