The New Student's Reference Work/Monsoon

Monsoon′, a term meaning a set time or season, formerly used to indicate the winds prevailing in the Indian Ocean, blowing from the southwest from April to October and from the northeast from October to April. The word is used now of all winds that are regular, returning with the seasons. The prevailing winds of North America are largely of this class, and there are monsoons in Australia and on the coasts of Brazil, Peru and North Africa. See Winds.