[f. WIND sb.1 + BAG sb.]
1. A bag containing ‘wind’ or air. a. The bellows of an organ (obs.) or bag of a bagpipe.
1470–3. Rec. Andover, 15. For amendyng of the wyndbagge of the organys vis.
1606. [implied in wind-bagged: see below].
1838. G. F. Graham, Mus. Comp., App. 50. Possibly the anatomical structure of the sonorous organs of these Cicadæ did not exactly resemble the wind-bag, and reed, and pipe of our biped bagpipers.
b. The lungs (Also pl.); the chest or body considered as a receptacle of breath. Now only jocular.
1552. Huloet, Wynde bagge of a man out of the which the winde passeth, and commeth forthe.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, II. s.v. Anaxarchus, He doubled these woordes worthy of remembraunce: Beate on, beate on Anaxarchus wynde bag: for Anaxarchus thou beatest not: accomptinge his body but a bagge full of wynde.
1860. W. W. Reade, Liberty Hall, I. i. 10. The dubious condition of his wind-bags occasioned him considerable … distress.
c. An inflated bag used as a charm to ensure a favorable wind.
1870. Morris, Earthly Par., III. IV. 202. From witch-wives have I bought ere now Wind-bags indeed, but yet did trow Nothing therein.
2. fig. (contemptuous). An empty pretender, or something pretentious but unsubstantial; esp. a voluble and senseless talker. (Cf. WIND sb.1 11 b, 14.)
1827. Carlyle, Misc., Richter (1869), 10. Consigned … to the Limbo appointed for all such windbags and deceptions.
1894. Sala, London up to date, II. xxii. 343. He is at best a noisy wind-bag and braggart.
Hence Wind-bagged a., furnished with a windbag (sense 1 a); Windbaggery, inflated talk.
1606. J. Reynolds, Dolarnys Primerose (1880), 118. There might be heard, the hollowe *wind bag’d droan’s, with direfull roaring.
1859. Sala, Tw. round Clock (1861), 396. Irremediably pin-perforated *windbaggery.
1920. Sat. Westm. Gaz., 21 May, 4/2. The stunt press, which greatly prides itself on its inexhaustible windbaggery on this subject.
