The word Tsunami first appeared in a National Geographic Magazine article in 1896. On the evening of June 15, 1896, the northeast coast of Hondo, the main island of Japan, was struck by a tsunami, a great earthquake wave…
It is a Japanese word combining 'tsu' (port) with 'nami' (wave). Tsunamis are giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea. They speed along as fast as jet planes.
This word seems to have replaced the more technical 'tidal wave' in public discussion.
Tsunami as a metaphor
The government has been overwhelmed by a tsunami of sexual and financial scandals.
There was a tsunami of applications for Oasis tickets.