WIND (a

See also:

• COMMON

common Teut. word, cognate with Skt. vats,

See also:

• LAT

Lat. ventus, cf. "

See also:

• WEATHER (O. Eng. weder; the word is common to Teutonic languages; cf. Du. weder, Dan. veir, Icel. ve8r, and Ger. Wetter and Gewitter, storm; the root is wa- to blow, from which is derived " wind ")

weather," to be of course distinguished from to " wind," to coil or twist, O.Eng. windan, cf. "wander," "wend," &c.)  , a natural motion of the air, a current of air coming from any particular direction or with any degree of velocity . For the general account of winds, their causes, &c., see METEOROLOGY . Winds may be classified according to the strength or velocity with which they blow, varying from a calm, a breeze to a gale, storm or hurricane; for the varying scale of velocity per hour of these see BEAUFORT SCALE, and for the measurement ANEMOMETER . Another classification divides them into " regular" or " constant " winds, such as the " trade winds" (q.v.), and " periodic" winds, such as the "monsoon" (q.v.) . There are many special winds, such as the " Fohn," " Chinook," " mistral," " harmattan," " sirocco," which are treated under their individual names . For the group of musical instruments known by the generic name of WIND INSTRUMENTS see that heading .