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Where does the word "gust" come from? It comes from Old Norse gustr, and was adopted directly into English (1580s).
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Where does the word "gust" come from? It comes from Old Norse gustr, and was adopted directly into English (1580s).
Gust’s story begins in Old Norse: gustr meant “a cold blast of wind.” From 'gjósa', to gush or burst out, the same root behind 'geyser'. It reached English by 1580s as gust. First appears in Shakespeare's era for a sudden rush of wind. Today, gust means a brief, strong rush of wind; an outburst of feeling.
- Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval gustr "a cold blast of wind", from 'gjósa', to gush or burst out, the same root behind 'geyser'.
- Stage 2 · English · 1580s gust "a sudden rush of wind", first appears in Shakespeare's era for a sudden rush of wind.