mistral

noun

mis·​tral ˈmi-strəl  mi-ˈsträl 

: a strong cold dry northerly wind of southern France

Examples of mistral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That is a sign of which way the mistral is blowing. —New York Times, 10 Jan. 2022

The mistral might blow the teeth out of your mouth. —Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021

Word History

Etymology

French, from Occitan, from mistral masterful, from Late Latin magistralis of a teacher — more at magistral

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined above

Biographical Definition

Mistral 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

Mis·​tral mi-ˈsträl 

-ˈstral

Frédéric 1830–1914 Provençal poet

Mistral

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

Gabriela 1889–1957 originally Lucila Godoy Alcayaga Chilean poet and educator