Literal translation
a wind fit to tear the tail off donkeys
Meaning
an extremely violent wind
Explanation
The local equivalent of "a wind fit to tear the horns off oxen". It called for an image of sturdiness, something that stays outdoors even in a strong gale, with an obviously unmovable part clearly on display: the donkey's tail fits perfectly, the donkey being once a very familiar animal throughout Provence. The choice of donkey over ox also owes to the ox's scarcity in Provence, where the dry climate doesn't suit it well, outside the Camargue and high mountains. As for wind, the region has plenty, thanks to the mistral.