whippoorwill winter
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "Whippoorwill Winter" (sometimes spelled "Whooperwill Winter") names a late-spring cold snap that coincides with the first calls of the whip-poor-will bird (usually mid- to late May). It’s one of the folk "little winters" marking seasonal shifts.
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I didn't grow up hearin' about 'Whippoorwill Winter.' Pronunciation
Meaning & Usage
- A late-spring cold spell during the whip-poor-will’s first calls (noun phrase)
Hear the whippoorwills yet?Yep - and it’s turned chilly. Must be Whippoorwill Winter.Origin
Rooted in Southern/Appalachian tradition. Farmers timed planting by natural signs like bird calls. The whip-poor-will’s first call often coincided with a late frost, so locals named it "Whippoorwill Winter."
Notes
Much less known outside the South and Appalachia. Survives mainly in folk memory, local almanacs, and older rural communities. Spelling varies by pronunciation ("Whippoorwill" or "Whooperwill").
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "whip-er-will winter" or "whoop-er-will winter." The spelling shifts to match the local pronunciation of the bird’s name.