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Back to article: WIND (a common Teut. word, cognate with Skt. vats, Lat. ventus, cf. " weather," to be of course distinguished from to " wind," to coil or twist, O.Eng. windan, cf. "wander," "wend," &c.)

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WIND (a common Teut. word, cognate with Skt. vats, Lat. ventus, cf. " 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.