cyclone (English)

Where does "cyclone" come from?

The word 'cyclone' was coined in the 1840s by Henry Piddington, who drew inspiration from the Ancient Greek word 'kuklôn,' meaning 'moving in a circle.' This term, rooted in the Greek 'kuklos' for 'circle' or 'wheel,' was chosen to aptly describe the rotating nature of wind systems. Its usage quickly expanded from technical maritime meteorology to signify any large-scale, low-pressure system marked by whirling winds.

Full etymology tree

• cyclone (English), 'Any weather phenomenon consisting of a system of winds rotating around a centre of low atmospheric pressure; a low pressure system.'
  • derived κυκλῶν (kuklôn) (Ancient Greek), 'present active participle of κυκλόω (kuklóō)'
  • derived κύκλος (kúklos) (Ancient Greek), 'circle, ring'
  • derived κυκλόω (kuklóō) (Ancient Greek), 'to encircle, surround'

Updated June 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris