Meaning
To subject (granular material, especially food grain) to a current of air separating heavier and lighter components, as grain from chaff.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
From Middle English wyndwen, from Old English windwian (“to winnow, fan, ventilate”), from Proto-West Germanic *windwōn, from Proto-Germanic *windwōną, *winþijaną (“to throw about, winnow”), from Proto-Indo-European *wē- (“to winnow, thresh”). Cognate with West Frisian wynje (“to winnow”), dialectal Dutch winden, winnen (“to winnow”), Middle High German winden (“to winnow”), Icelandic vinsa (“to pick out, weed”), Latin vannus (“a winnowing basket”). See fan, van.
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 15 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-06-06OEILNTW
- 2025-12-01IDWONKL
- 2025-11-24OAWRIBN
- 2025-11-22OGWUTIN
- 2025-06-06WANILGO
- 2025-05-06OENIGMW
- 2025-04-11OGNIHLW
- 2024-12-23WDNIHLO
- 2024-12-09OGUKINW
- 2024-11-18WDEINOP
- 2024-04-19WGOKINR
- 2024-04-04IDTNMOW
+3 earlier appearances in the archive.