[f. WIND sb.1 + EGG sb. Cf. G., LG., Du. windei.] An imperfect or unproductive egg, esp. one with a soft shell, such as may be laid by hens and other domestic birds.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIX. lxxix. (Add. MS. 27944). Wynde eyren beþ litel and vnsauory…. And suche eyren beþ yfounde in hennes & gees.
1577. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., 169. The Hennes wyl treade one the others, but theyr Egges neuer come to good, but are wind Egges.
1611. Cotgr., Harde,… an egge laied with a soft skin, or filme (about it) in stead of a shell; a soft-sheld egge; a wind egge.
1741. J. Martyn, Virg. Georg., III. 273, note. Varro affirms it as a certain truth, that about Lisbon some mares conceive by the wind, at a certain season, as hens conceive what is called a wind egg.
1844. H. Stephens, Bk. Farm, II. 721. Hens will lay what are called wind eggs, that is, eggs without a hardened shell.
1893. Newton, Dict. Birds, 198. Want of calcareous food may explain the soft-shelled or ‘wind’ eggs.
b. fig.
a. 1616. Beaum. & Fl., Wit without M., I. i. Other men with all their delicates, and healthfull diets, can get but winde egges.
1645. Milton, Colast., 3. From such a wind-egg of definition as this, they who expect any of his other arguments to bee well hatchit [etc.].
1661. Stillingfl., Irenicum, II. vi. § 2. 237. The pretended division of Provinces so early among the Apostles, is only the wind-egge of a working fancy, that wants shell of reason to cover it.
1826. Beddoes, Lett. to T. F. Kelsall, 5 Oct. Here is a Dr. Raupach who lays a tragedy or two in the year—mostly windeggs.
