Bise
/biːz/noun
A cold, dry north or northeast wind in parts of Switzerland and southern France.
Did you know?In Alpine regions, the bise was so notorious for its cutting cold that it became a fixed named wind in local weather lore, not just a generic breeze.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰew-
“to blow, puff”
Latin
Latin
flāre
“to blow”
Late Latin
Latin
bisia
“a blast or gust of wind”
Old French
Old French
bise
“a cold north wind”
Modern English
English
bise
“a cold north or northeast wind, especially in Switzerland and nearby regions”