English

dust devil

From dust + devil.

A compound of dust + devil

Proto-Indo-European *dʰewh₂- ‘to smoke, raise dust’

Proto-Germanic *dustą ‘dust’

Old English dūst ‘dust’

Middle English dust ‘dust’

English dust

Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH- ‘to hit by throwing’

…

Latin diabolus

Proto-West Germanic *diubul

Old English dēofol ‘a demon, devil’

Middle English devil

English devil

Today it means

noun A small atmospheric vortex appearing in clear, dry conditions, made visible by swirling dust (or dirt or sand) picked up from the ground.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / dust devil