hurricane
UK[ˈhʌr.ɪ.kən]US[ˈhɝː.ɪ.keɪn]
n
a violent storm with very strong winds, especially in the western atlantic ocean
Etymology
the word hurricane entered english in the 16th century from spanish 'huracán', which itself was borrowed from a carib or taino word 'hurakán', referring to a god of storms or the storm itself. this reflects the european encounter with the powerful tropical cyclones of the west indies. the spanish form was influenced by the similar-sounding spanish word 'huracar', meaning to blow fiercely. the english spelling stabilized as 'hurricane', and its meaning became specifically tied to the severe cyclonic storms of the atlantic and eastern pacific regions.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword. it does not contain separable morphemes in its modern english form.
Examples
the hurricane caused widespread damage to coastal communities.
residents were ordered to evacuate before the hurricane made landfall.
meteorologists are tracking the hurricane's path and intensity.