Defn: The act of winding or turning; a turn; a bend; a twist; a winding.
WIND Wind (wînd, in poetry and singing often wind; 277), n. Etym: [AS. wind; akin to OS., OFries., D., & G. wind, OHG. wint, Dan. & Sw. vind, Icel. vindr, Goth winds, W. gwynt, L. ventus, Skr. vata (cf. Gr. 'ah`ths a blast, gale, 'ah^nai to breathe hard, to blow, as the wind); originally a p. pr. from the verb seen in Skr. va to blow, akin to AS. wawan, D. waaijen, G. wehen, OHG. waen, wajen, Goth. waian. sq. root131. Cf. Air, Ventail, Ventilate, Window, Winnow.]
1. Air naturally in motion with any degree of velocity; a current of air. Except wind stands as never it stood, It is an ill wind that turns none to good. Tusser . Winds were soft, and woods were green. Longfellow.
2. Air artificially put in motion by any force or action; as, the wind of a cannon ball; the wind of a bellows.
3. Breath modulated by the respiratory and vocal organs, or by an instrument. Their instruments were various in their kind, Some for the bow, and some for breathing wind. Dryden.
4. Power of respiration; breath. If my wind were but long enough to say my prayers, I would repent. Shak.
5. Air or gas generated in the stomach or bowels; flatulence; as, to be troubled with wind.
6. Air impregnated with an odor or scent. A pack of dogfish had him in the wind. Swift.
7. A direction from which the wind may blow; a point of the compass; especially, one of the cardinal points, which are often called the four winds. Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain. Ezek. xxxvii. 9.
Note: This sense seems to have had its origin in the East. The
Hebrews gave to each of the four cardinal points the name of wind.