foehn

‖n. [ G. dial. (Swiss), fr. L. Favonius west wind. Cf. Favonian. ] (Meteor.) (a) A warm dry wind that often blows in the northern valleys of the Alps, due to the indraught of a storm center passing over Central Europe. The wind, heated by compression in its descent from the mountains, reaches the base, particularly in winter, dry and warm. (b) Any similar wind, as the chinook, in other parts of the world. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]