Is 'simoom' English, or is it actually Arabic?

'Simoom' is a word borrowed from Arabic 'samūm'. The word entered the English language some time around 1790.

simoom [noun] [1790]

A hot dry violent dust-laden wind from Asian and African deserts
Meaning: a hot dry violent dust-laden wind from Asian and African deserts.

Etymology: Arabic samum.

Topics: Geography:Landforms, Weather.

Origin: From Arabic to English.

note: A hot dry dust laden desert wind of North Africa and Arabia. From Arabic samum meaning poison wind. Also appears as simoon in older English.

See 'simoom' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Arabic.

See more loan words from 1700s.