cordonazo

noun

cor·do·na·zo

ˌkȯ(r)dᵊnˈä(ˌ)sō

plural -s

: a southerly hurricane wind that occurs along the west coast of Mexico when a tropical cyclone passes northward offshore

Word History

Etymology

Mexican Spanish, short for Spanish cordonazo de San Francisco autumnal storm, literally, lash of St. Francis (around whose birthday—October 4—such storms occur); cordonazo from cordón rope worn by friars (from Old Spanish, from Old French cordon) + -azo (suffix denoting a blow)