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You are here: Home / Science / How Are Clouds Named and What Does Cirrus Mean In Latin?

How Are Clouds Named and What Does Cirrus Mean In Latin?

July 4, 2020 by Karen Hill

Cirrus means “curl of hair” in Latin.

The four main types of clouds were all named in Latin, according to what they looked like to someone standing on the ground.

Besides cirrus, cumulus. means “heap,” stratus means “layer,” and nimbus means “rain.”

Why do clouds have Latin names? It’s just cooler that way.

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Filed Under: Science

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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