Phrase guide

willy willy

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A whirlwind, cyclone or tornado; a dust devil.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia

Examples

  • 2000, Blake Education staff, Terrific Topics: Middle Primary: Book 1, Blake Education, Australia, page 92, Hurricanes, cyclones, willy-willies and typhoons are all storms with incredibly strong and powerful winds.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Yindjibarndi wili wili (or a related language of northwest Australia).