dry spell

English

Etymology

Originated around 1885-1890.

Noun

dry spell (plural dry spells)

1. a drawn-out period where the weather has been dry, for an abnormally long time- shorter and not as severe as a drought
   • 1996, M.G. Vassangi, The Book Of Secrets: A Novel, page 74:

     The rains, it seemed, were over, and a dry spell was upon them

   • 2003, Denise Gess, William Lutz, Firestorm at Peshtigo, page 42:

     The only place unaffected by the persistent dry spell was the city of Milwaukee,

2. a period or time where there is little activity, productivity, low income etc.
   • 1970, Gabriel H. L. Jacobs, When children think: using journals to encourage creative thinking, page 31:

     The first type is of course the dry spell when you can't think of any ideas. The second type is when kids just have a dry spell in writing.

3. a period of time of sexual abstinence, excluding masturbation, and usually not willful but due to lack of a sex partner

   Having a dry spell could be characterized as being sexually anorexic.

See also

• petrichor (the scent of rain on earth after a dry spell)