monsoon, mons on, monzoon

[Italian monsone, from Malay músim =a season, a monsoon, from Arab. mawsim a time, a season; Fr. mons on, monçon, mou on; Port. monsão; Sp. monzon.] I. Ordinary Language: 1. In the same sense as II. 1, 2. monstrously so named. II. Meteorology : 1. ( Pl .): A modification of the trade winds, oper ative from the Tropic of Cancer to Lat. 7° S., and from the coast of Africa through the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal to Japan and the Western Pacific. There are two monsoons, the Southwestern and the Northeastern. The latter prevails from October to April, and the former from April to October. The bursting of the monsoon commences the rainy season in India, the southwestern bring. ing that of Bombay and Central India, and the northeastern that of Madras and other parts of the east coast. [RAINY-SEASON.] The monsoons are caused by the unequal heating of the land and water and of the several land ma es themselves in the regions which they affect. Independently of their great use in bringing rain to countries which otherwise would degenerate into deserts, they are useful for navigation. As in the case of the trade winds, navigators can so plan their voyages as to take advantage of the monsoons, though powerful steamships can now achieve the feat of running in the teeth of the monsoon, but not without some discomfort to those on board. 2. Any similar wind blowing half the year in one direction and half in the other.