dial. Also 5–6 wynd, 8 Sc. winn. [Perh. a use of WIND v.2; cf. OHG. wintôn (MHG., G. winden), Goth. diswinþjan to scatter like chaff (cf. winþiskaurô and OHG. winta winnowing-fan).
Late Northumb. windung, rare var. of winnung, wynnung, appears to be unconnected, and winden in Ancr. R. (ed. Morton) 270 is prob. an error for windwen.]
To winnow. Chiefly in vbl. sb. (attrib.).
a. 1500. Promp. Parv., 529/1. Wynewynge, wythe wyynd (K., P. wyndynge), ventilacio.
1538. Aberd. Reg., XVI. (Jam., 1825). And see the same bair wyndit & dycht.
1548, etc. [see WINDING-CLOTH2].
1578. Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 783/1. The beir granell, malt barne and windinhous.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 74/1. Winnowing, Winding or Haveing.
1733. Budgell, Bee, No. 7. I. 293. Their Mother coming home presently after from winding of Corn, affrighted at this tragical Scene, threw the winding Cloth which she had in her Hand into the Cradle where the youngest Child was asleep, and smother’d it unawares.
1785. Burns, Halloween, xxi. Meg fain wad to the barn gaen To winn three wechts o’ naething.
1847. Halliwell, Wind … To winnow corn. Devon.
1869. Peacock, Lonsdale Gloss.
1891. Hartland Gloss., s.v. Wind, Although winnin’ or windin’ by hand is nearly obsolete, some farms have still a Windin’-place, a spot of high ground where it was performed.
1919. Chope, Some Old Farm Impl., 24. [Devonshire] the ‘machine fan,’ or winding-van.
