swakop
swakop Lexical Profile
• noun
A major ephemeral river in western Namibia that flows westward through the Namib Desert and empties into the Atlantic Ocean.
"The Swakop remains dry for most of the year, only reaching the Atlantic Ocean after periods of heavy rainfall in its catchment area."
A colloquial shortening of Swakopmund, a prominent coastal city in western Namibia situated at the mouth of the Swakop River.
"Many locals from Windhoek travel down to Swakop during the hot summer months to enjoy the cooler coastal climate."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Khoekhoe word 'Tsoakhaub', historically referencing the muddy, debris-filled discharge of the river into the Atlantic Ocean during floods. German colonial settlers later adapted the pronunciation to 'Swachaub' and eventually 'Swakop'.