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Webster 1913 Edition
Tornado
Tor-na′do
,Noun.
pl.
Tornadoes
(#)
. [From Sp. or Pg.
tornar
to turn, return, L. tornare
to turn, hence, a whirling wind. The Sp. & Pg. tornada
is a return. See Turn
.] A violent whirling wind; specifically
(Meteorol.)
, a tempest distinguished by a rapid whirling and slow progressive motion, usually accompaned with severe thunder, lightning, and torrents of rain, and commonly of short duration and small breadth; a small cyclone. Webster 1828 Edition
Tornado
TORNA'DO
,Noun.
A violent gust of wind, or a tempest, distinguished by a whirling motion. tornadoes of this kind happen after extreme heat, and sometimes in the United States, rend up fences and trees, and in a few instances have overthrown houses and torn them to pieces. Tornadoes are usually accompanied with severe thunder, lightning and torrents of rain; but they are of short duration, and narrow in breadth.