berg wind, noun phrase

Origin:
EnglishShow more berg + English wind.
A hot, dry wind originating over the high central plateau of South Africa and blowing towards the coast. Also attributive.
1876 J.F. Sewell Private Diary (1983) May 13,..Wind from North being the first ‘Berg’ wind of the season.
1893 E. Nicholson in Cape Illust. Mag. Vol.4 No.7, 241She..was vainly trying to lose in sleep the monotonous boom of the hot Berg Wind.
1905 C.M. Stewart in Flint & Gilchrist Science in S. Afr. 40Another factor which considerably modifies the climates of the coast districts is to be found in the fairly frequent occurrence of hot, dry Föhn-like winds all along the coast from Walfish Bay to Durban. The disturbing effect of these ‘Berg winds,’ as they are termed, on the temperature curve is most marked in the winter months of April to September.
1907 T.R. Sim Forests & Forest Flora 38This is known as the ‘berg’ winter wind of the Midland Conservancy coast districts, and the hot winter winds of the Eastern districts; it usually blows for two or three days in succession, after which time the heated atmosphere naturally rises and gives place to cooler breezes.
1923 S. Afr.: Land of Outdoor Life (S.A.R. & H.) 4The towns along the south-east and east coasts have occasional hot or berg winds.
c1936 S. & E. Afr. Yr Bk & Guide 99The hot or ‘Berg’ winds are a feature of the coastal climate, they may blow for 2 or 3 days and cause great oppression.
c1939 Off. Yr Bk of Union No. 19, 1938 (Union Office of Census & Statistics) 40These ‘bergwinds’, as they are called along the south coast, at times cause a practical inversion of the seasons.
1955 A. Delius Young Trav. in S. Afr. 123The Eastern Province suffered a great deal from the whipping, irritating southeaster and hot, northerly Berg wind — so called because it comes from the scorched interior, bringing with it the heat of the mountain rocks.
1971 Daily Dispatch 11 May 10If you were complaining about the hot berg wind in East London yesterday..just thank your lucky stars you were not in Egypt in the old days with a strong Khamsin blowing.
1973 J. Cowden For Love 100The wind always blew around the mountain, but sometimes it was a Berg wind, warm and dry, and the lassitude it produced in us was also apparent in the eagles.
1990 Weekend Post 2 June 2Berg wind conditions kept East London and Port Elizabeth firemen busy fighting several grass fires today.
1990 G. Candy in Staffrider Vol.9 No.2, 62Where berg winds blow, grass withers wombs abort and blossom lies like dung.
A hot, dry wind originating over the high central plateau of South Africa and blowing towards the coast. Also attributive.
Derivatives:
Hence berg windy  adjective  nonce.
1963 M.G. McCoy Informant, Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha), Eastern CapeIt was a very hot day, berg windy, and the car had had a following wind all the way up.
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18761990

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berg windy

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