‖ tourmente
(turmɑ̃t)
[Fr.: see torment n.]
A whirling storm or eddy (of snow): cf. torment n. 5.
| [1843 J. D. Forbes Trav. through Alps 187 The strong west wind..raises the snow into fearful eddies, called tourmentes in the French.] 1847 G. B. Cheever Wand. Pilgr. xii. 90 The fury of these tourmentes is inconceivable. 1909 Blackw. Mag. Sept. 341/1, I reached it..in a more than usually objectionable tourmente of snow. 1924 J. Buchan Three Hostages xii. 177, I could see that it was blowing hard, for my glass showed me little tourmentes of snow. 1928 Blackw. Mag. May 601/1 Above the howl of the tourmente came the crash of falling rocks. |