Bise

noun

1. A cold north wind of the Swiss Alps and nearby regions of France and Italy.
2. A dry cold north and northeast wind, prevailing especially in Provence and the Rhône valley, and very destructive to vegetation, so that “to be struck by the bise” has become a proverb in Provence, meaning to be overtaken by misfortune: nearly the same as mistral.
3. A cold north wind which prevails on the northern coasts of the Mediterranean and in Switzerland, etc.; -- nearly the same as the mistral.
4. See bice.
5. Alternative form of bice (blue pigment)