wind

Where does the word "wind" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic windaz, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

Wind’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: windaz meant “wind.” Cognate with Latin 'ventus', as in 'vent' and 'ventilate'. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as wind. Rhymed with 'find' until the 1700s, when its vowel shortened. It reached English by 1500s as wind. 'window' comes from Old Norse 'vindauga', wind-eye. Today, wind means air moving naturally across the Earth.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient windaz "wind", cognate with Latin 'ventus', as in 'vent' and 'ventilate'.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s wind "wind", rhymed with 'find' until the 1700s, when its vowel shortened.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s wind "wind", 'window' comes from Old Norse 'vindauga', wind-eye.