Forms: α. 6 touffon, 7 tuffon, -one, -in, tufon, -faon, tufan, 8 typhawn, 9 tuphan, toofan, touffan, tūfān. β. 7–9 tuffoon, 8–9 tiffoon. γ. 8 tay-fun, 9 ty-foong, tifoon, tyfoon, typhoon. [Two different Oriental words are included here: (1) the α-forms (like Pg. tufão, † tufōe) are a. Urdū (Persian and Arabic) ṭūfān a violent storm of wind and rain, a tempest, hurricane, tornado, commonly referred to Arab. ṭāfa, to turn round (nouns of action ṭuf, ṭawafān), but possibly an adoption of Gr. τῡφῶν TYPHON2; (2) the β- and γ- forms represent Chinese tai fung, common dialect forms (as in Cantonese) of ta big, and fêng wind (hence also G. teifun). The spelling of the β-forms has apparently been influenced by that of the earlier-known Indian word, while that now current is due to association with TYPHON2.]
a. A violent storm or tempest occurring in India († occas. with reference to other localities); b. A violent cyclonic storm or hurricane occurring in the China seas and adjacent regions, chiefly during the period from July to October.
α. 1588. T. Hickock, trans. C. Frederick’s Voy., 34 b. I went a boord of the Shippe of Bengala, at which tine it was the yeere of Touffon. Ibid., 35. This Touffon or cruell storme endured three dayes and three nightes.
1614. Purchas, Pilgrimage, IV. xix. 448. The winde, which they call Tufan is so violent, that it driueth ships on the land, ouerthroweth men and houses.
1616. R. Cocks, Diary (Hakl. Soc.), I. 163. Overcast wether, with a stiff gale wynd … towardes night proved a tuffon.
1625. Purchas, Pilgrims, I. I. vi. 20. Tempests, Huricanos, Tufons, Water-spouts.
1665. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 11. It may also be remembred, that during this late tuffon, lightning was seen to fall and hang like fire.
1674. J. Josselyn, Two Voyages to N. E., 54. In the West-Indies in August and September the forcible North-wind, which though some call Tuffins or Hurricanes we must distinguish.
1793. W. Hodges, Trav. India, 132. The country people call them aundees, and typhawns.
1811. Mrs. Sherwood, in Life, xxiii. (1847), 382. During a most tremendous touffan.
1826. Hockley, Pandurang Hari, I. iv. 48. I … inquired how this toofan or storm had arisen.
1850. Fanny Parks, Wand. Pilgr., xliii. II. 53. The whirling Clouds of the tūfān.
1885. Lewin, Fly on Wheel, ii. 61. We ought to make ready for the coming ‘tuphan,’ or tempest.
β. 1699. Dampier, Voy. (1729), II. I. 35. The violent Storms called Tuffoons (Typhones).
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., II. xxxix. 89. September, they reacht the Coast of China, where meeting with a Tuffoon, or a North-east Storm, that often blows violently about that Season, they were forced to bear away.
1745. P. Thomas, Voy. S. Seas, 274. Those dreadful Gusts of Wind called here [near Canton] by the Name of Tuffoons, of which the Chinese relate very amazing and incredible Effects.
1773. Chron., in Ann. Reg., 202/1. We had another tiffoon in August, when all the European ships at Wampoo drove with three anchors a-head.
1802. Capt. Elmore, in Naval Chron., VIII. 381. In the event of a tuffoon coming on.
1831. Trelawny, Adv. Younger Son, I. 281. I should as soon have thought of anchoring on the sand-heads in a tiffoon.
γ. 1771. J. R. Forster, trans. Osbeck’s Voy., I. 169. Exceeding great storms (called Tay-fun by the Chinese).
1806. Naval Chron., XV. 465. A Danish … ship … encountered a Ty-foong.
1819. Shelley, Prometh. Unb., II. iv. 170. My coursers … outstrip the Typhoon [rhyme moon].
1832. Lyell, Princ. Geol., II. 98. Captain W. H. Smyth informs me, that when cruizing … amidst the Philippine Islands, he has … seen, after those dreadful hurricanes called typhoons, floating islands of wood, with trees growing upon them.
1848. S. W. Williams, Middle Kingd., I. ii. 49. The increased temperature on the southern coast during June and July operates … to produce violent storms along the seaboard, called tyfoons, from the Chinese ta-fung, or ‘great wind.’
1900. Jrnl. Sch. Geog. (U.S.), June, 224. The typhoon of the western Pacific Ocean is in many respects the counterpart of the West Indian hurricane.
fig. 1851. J. Milne, Poems, 295. Thoughts have their Typhoons.
1898. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., V. 807. Its [the heart’s] workings … lie … in the track of emotional gales and typhoons.
c. attrib. and Comb.
1880. Miss Bird, Japan, II. 124. It was what they call a ‘typhoon rain,’ without the typhoon.
1901. D. B. Hall & Ld. A. Osborne, Sunshine & Surf, ii. 17. Our track was well out of the typhoon district.
1907. Manila Cablenews, 21 Aug., 8/5. The building is of concrete, earthquake- and typhoon-proof.
Hence Typhoonish a., resembling or portending a typhoon.
1880. Clark Russell, Sailor’s Sweetheart, vi. That was a bright flash! Gad! That looked typhoonish!
1893. K. T. Webber, in Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, 22 Nov. The weather … had been very ‘typhoonish.’
