squaw winter

Etymology
squaw + winter. The word squaw was applied by Europeans to a large number of unrelated things; see the Derived terms section of the entry squaw.

Noun

 * 1)  An early onset of winter, an early (October) cold snap, often followed by flurries of snow.
 * 2)  A mild onset of winter.

Coordinate terms

 * blackberry winter
 * Indian summer and synonyms listed there