Fremantle Doctor

proper noun

The sea breeze that blows from the Indian Ocean over Perth, Western Australia.

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DoctorFreo Doctor
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Meanings

proper noun
  1. AustraliaThe sea breeze that blows from the Indian Ocean over Perth, Western Australia.

    Just offshore from Rous Head, the Fremantle Doctor had its effect on the America′s Cup defence in 1987, where the course was positioned.

    2005, Australian Geographic: The Journal of the Australian Geographic Society, numbers 77-80, page 18
    2 more examples

    Afterwards, you go up with your oldies to the beer garden and you get a lemon squash and sit in the shade and wait for the Fremantle Doctor.

    1986, Tim Winton, That Eye, the Sky, Scribner Paperback, published 2002, page 38

    The Western Australian sailors were gloating because they didn't think we would be up to the Fremantle Doctor (a strong wind which usually blows up at 3pm).

    2009, Nic Compton, Iain Oughtred: A Life in Boats, page 23

    Synonyms: Doctor, Freo Doctor

Synonyms & antonyms

proper nounThe sea breeze that blows from the Indian Ocean over Perth, Western Australia.

Similar
DoctorFreo Doctor

Origin

Named after the city (now within Perth suburbs) of Fremantle, which is the direction the wind comes from to reach central districts of Perth; called the "doctor" for the relief it brings on hot summer days.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Fremantle Doctor. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Fremantle%20Doctor

MLA

“Fremantle Doctor.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Fremantle%20Doctor. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Fremantle Doctor,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Fremantle%20Doctor.

Source: Fremantle Doctor on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.