black south-easter, noun phrase

Also with initial capitals. Especially in the Western Cape: a violent south-easterly wind, cold and usually accompanied with heavy rain. Also attributive. Cf. Cape Doctor.
1847 A Bengali Notes on Cape of G.H. 13The black South Easters, as they are called, and which blow occasionally in winter, are exceedingly violent and gloomy, and are justly considered unhealthy.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 63Black south-easter,..A violent south wind heavily laden with saline and other matter, prevalent at certain seasons of the year round the South African coast.
1949 J. Mockford Golden Land 24When there is an ordinary south-easter, an old citizen will remark that the Devil is smoking today. But when it is a black south-easter, blowing great guns and tumbling cloud, then, he will say, it is the Devil and van Hunks.
1976 A.P. Brink Instant in Wind 47The popularity of this thatching in the Cape must be ascribed to an effort to avoid the grave accidents which may result from heavier roofing being ripped off by the notorious ‘Black South-easter’ winds raging in this region.
1977 Cape Times 23 Dec. 8A black south-easter..roaring from ocean to ocean, struck the south-western corner of the sub-continent, causing millions worth of damage in orchards and vineyards.
1981 Fair Lady 25 Mar. 49A black south easter coming up the south Atlantic caused heavy rain...A black south easter is a cold moist wind (the normal south easter is warm and dry) which caused a high pressure system to move over the interior.
1985 A. Tredgold Bay between Mountains 102The wind from the SSE, the black south-easter, is one of the most dangerous,..for it comes up suddenly with great force from the open sea and builds up huge waves.
1990 Weekend Argus 10 Feb. 5Pedestrians outside Cape Town Civic Centre struggle to make their way against the black south-easter. At times it became almost impossible for people to walk on the Foreshore.
Also with initial capitals.Especially in the Western Cape: a violent south-easterly wind, cold and usually accompanied with heavy rain. Also attributive.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

18471990