1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Wind

WIND (a common Teut. word, cognate with Skt. vatas, 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 “Föhn,” “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.