willy-willy
/ˈwɪlɪwɪli
/noun (plural willy-willies) Australian
A whirlwind or dust storm.Later on as the willy-willy gallops across the country, whirling a column of dust, trees lash their branches to warn man of the oncoming storm....
- Hurricanes are called typhoons when occurring in the Pacific Ocean and willy-willies in Australia.
- Often the topsoil was easy to see because it was blowing around in the air, in willy-willies like mini-tornadoes.
Origin
From Yindjibarndi (an Aboriginal language of western Australia) or Wemba-wemba (an Aboriginal language of SE Australia).