Where does “downwind” come from?
Downwind comes from Middle English down- combined with Old English windan, from Proto-Germanic windaną and Proto-Indo-European wendʰ-, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂weh₁- meaning to blow or move air.
downwind (English): in the same direction as the wind is blowing;...
Definitions
- in the same direction as the wind is blowing;...
Ancestry of “downwind”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | wind | Real or perceived movement of atmospheric air... |
| 2 | English | farm | A place where agricultural and similar activities... |
| 3 | Middle English | ferme | A lease; the renting of land |
| 4 | Old French | ferme | lease; the land leased; farm |
| 5 | Medieval Latin | ferma | Alternative form of firma |
| 6 | Latin | Firma | tax, tribute |
| 7 | Latin | Firmus | strong, powerful |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | fermos | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰer-mo-s | holding |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰer- | to support; to hold |