(a) The perceptible motion of air over the surface of the earth; a specific instance of such motion of air; also in fig. context; ~ side (half), the side from which the wind is blowing; ~ wavinge red, a reed swaying in the wind; (b) a strong wind accompanying a storm; a turbulent air current; also fig.; ~ blast (storm), a strong wind, gust of wind; (c) in phrases with qualifying adjectives; also in fig. context; also in proverbs; ~ gret (wode), gret (muchel, strong, etc.) ~; bitter (wroth) ~; cold (hot, wet) ~; light (litel) ~; whirlinge ~; whirl ~, q.v.; whistlinge (pipeling) ~; (d) a wind blowing from a specific direction; ~ southerne, est (estern, est south-est, north, northen, south, southerne, south-west, west, westerne, west-north-west, etc.) ~ [see northern(e adj. 1.(b), north-est n., adj., & adv. (c), north-west n., adj., & adv. (c), southen adj., southern(e adj. 1.(a), south-west adj. 1., west adj. 2.(c), western(e adj. (a); see also north adj. 2.(d), northen adj. (c), south adj. (b), and for others Trev. Barth. (Add:Seymour) 573-7 & Vegetius(1)182-3]; ~ zephirus (auster, etc.), eurus ~; four (cardinales) windes, winds blowing directly from the four compass points; also, the four corners of an area; from (the) four windes, from all directions; side (quartere) ~, a wind blowing from a direction other than one of the four cardinal compass points; twelve windes;—used fig.

(a) In stock similes as a type or an emblem of swiftness, transience, or changeability: as (the) ~; so windes blast, like a gust of wind; (b) in phrases suggesting the force or fury of the wind: as (the, ani) ~; ayen (ayenes) the ~; beten (clippen) the ~; (c) fig. a force, an agency, or an influence; ~ of temptacioun (prosperite, tribulacioun, etc.); worldli ~; (d) fig. a course of events;—in phrases: hou the ~ was went, how affairs had turned; stondeth the ~ in that dore, is that how things are happening?

In misc. cpds. and combs.: ~ balke (bem), arch. a crossbeam tying together a pair of rafters; ~ barge, q.v.; ~ ei, an imperfect egg with a soft shell; ~ fal, ~ galle, q.v.; ~ milne, q.v.; ~ reses, ?rushes of wind, wind storms; ?error for win n.(1) 1.(b); ~ shake, a defect in timber believed caused by the wind; ~ spelt, ?a piece of wood or metal, perh. used as some kind of windbreak; ~ swift, a name for a hare; shere ~, q.v.

(a) Moving air as the propelling force for a vessel on water; also, a wind favorable to navigation; also in fig. context; also person.; ~ driven; fair (god, etc.) ~; contrarie (turninge) ~; ~ and (ne) weder, weather conditions as favorable or unfavorable for sailing; tofore (toforen) the ~, in the direction the wind is blowing; (b) air as a carrier of scent; also fig. and in fig. context; under the ~, on the side toward which the wind is blowing, downwind.

(a) Air as an element or a substance; (b) air contained in something, confined air; bladdre (ful) of ~; ~ bagge, a bellows or bladder for an organ; ~ vent, a vent for the release of air from a conduit; (c) air or gas emitted from the earth; a rush of air caused by something moving; also, an artificially produced wind; (d) fig. a vain conceit; a transitory and insubstantial thing or belief; but (a) ~.

(a) Air that is inhaled and exhaled by the lungs, breath; breathing, respiration; also, life; ~ bringer, something that provides breath, the lung; ~ hole, the trachea; cacchen (gaderen, etc.) ~, to recover one’s regular breathing; hongen bi the ~, fig. hang (sb.) by the throat, hang; (b) breath used in speaking or playing an instrument; also, speech, talk; also in fig. context; ~ loren, breathless, speechless; (c) fig. idle or vain talk; boastful words; rumor, fame; but (a) ~.

Gas or air within the body, usu. in the digestive organs; also, an airy substance causing certain pathological growths; ~ letinge, breaking wind, flatulence.

In surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.268].