winding

plural windings

1. gerund of wind
   1. attributivecountableuncountableagricultureThe act of winnowing (“subjecting food grain to a current of air to separate the grain from the chaff”).
   2. countableuncountableentertainmentThe act of blowing air through a wind instrument or (chiefly) a horn to make a sound.

      [W]e savv a Fox run by the Foot of our Mount into an adjacent Thicket. A fevv Minutes after, vve heard a confuſed Noiſe of the opening of Hounds, the vvinding of Horns, and the roaring of Country Squires.

      1732, George Berkeley, “The Fifth Dialogue”, in Alciphron: Or, The Minute Philosopher. […], volume I, London: […] J[acob] Tonson […], →OCLC, section I, pages 266–267

      2 more examples

      Novv their opinions of the end of the vvorld, of Paradiſe, and of hell; exceede the vanity of dreames, and all old vviues fables. They ſay, that at the vvinding of a horne not only all fleſh ſhall die, but the Angels themſelues: & that the earth vvith earthquakes ſhall be kneaded together like a lumpe of dough, for forty daies ſo continuing.

      1615, George Sandys, “The First Booke”, in The Relation of a Iourney Begun An: Dom: 1610. […], London: […] [Richard Field] for W. Barrett, →OCLC, page 58

      Not a man or woman in the town but has heard stories of apparitions in the forest, or about the old castle. Sometimes it is a pack of hounds that sweep along, and the whoops and hollos of the huntsman, and the winding of horns and the galloping of horse, […]

      1826, [Walter Scott], chapter X, in Woodstock; Or, The Cavalier. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, →OCLC, page 247

comparative more winding · superlative most winding

1. not comparableusuallyCausing one to be breathless or out of breath.
2. not comparableusuallyentertainmentOf a horn or wind instrument: blown to make a sound.

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of wind

plural windings

1. gerund of wind
   1. countableuncountableThe act of twisting something, or coiling or wrapping something around another thing.

      Then there was […] a vast deal of screwing and tightening, and winding and tuning, during which Mrs. Briggs expatiated to those near her on the immense difficulty of playing a guitar, and hinted at the wondrous proficiency of her daughters in that mystic art.

      1834 October, “Boz” [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], “The Steam Excursion”, in Sketches by “Boz,” Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People. […], volume II, London: John Macrone, […], published 1836, →OCLC, pages 305–306

   2. countableespeciallyin pluraluncountableA curving, sinuous, or twisting movement; twists and turns.

      [T]here vvill be hurly burly, like as ye ſee in a man vvhen he dieth; vvhat deformity appeareth, hovv he ſtretcheth out all his members, vvhat a vvinding is there, ſo that all his body cometh out of frame?

      1552 November 29 (Gregorian calendar), Hugh Latimer, Augustine Bernher, compiler, “Sermon XXX. Preached upon the Second Sunday in Advent. 1552..”, in The Sermons of the Right Reverend Father in God, Master Hugh Latimer, Bishop of Worcester. […], volume II, London: […] J. Scott, […], published 1758, →OCLC, page 670

      1 more example

      Eugene Forsarde, the reviewer in question, follows Currer Bell [Brontë's pseudonym] through every winding, discerns every point, discriminates every shade, proves himself master of the subject, and lord of the aim.

      1849 November, Charlotte Brontë, chapter IV, in E[lizabeth] C[leghorn] Gaskell, The Life of Charlotte Brontë, […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder & Co., […], published 1857, →OCLC, page 130

   3. countableespeciallyin pluraluncountableA curving, sinuous, or twisting form.

      The Labyrinth] A building ſo entangled in vvindings and cyrcles, that it deceiueth all that come in it.

      1610, Saint Augustine, “What Fictions Got Footing in the Nations, when the Iudges Beganne First to Rule Israel. Chap. 13.”, in J[ohn] H[ealey], transl., St. Augustine, of the Citie of God: […], [London]: […] George Eld, →OCLC, book XVIII, page 561

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      Berenice ſtandeth upon the utmoſt vvinding and nouke of Syrtis, called ſometime the cittie of the above-named Heſperides, according to the vvandering tales of Greece.

      1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book V.] Cyrene.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], 1st tome, London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, page 94

      This idol, like a worm, that less or more / Contracts or strains her, did itself convey, / Beyond the wards or windings of the key, / Into the chamber, and, above her head / Her seat assuming, thus she comforted / Distress'd Penelope: […]

      1614–1615, Homer, “The Fourth Book of Homer’s Odysseys”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., Homer’s Odysses. […], London: […] Rich[ard] Field [and William Jaggard], for Nathaniell Butter, published 1615, →OCLC; republished in The Odysseys of Homer, […], volume I, London: John Russell Smith, […], 1857, →OCLC, page 106, lines 1082–1087

      [T]heſe ["mixt newel'd stairs"], becauſe they ſometimes vvind, and ſometimes fly off from that vvinding take therefore the more room up in the Stair-Caſe.

      1679, Joseph Moxon, “Numb[er] IX. Applied to the Art of House-Carpentery.”, in Mechanick Exercises, or The Doctrine of Handy-Works, […], volume I, London: […] Joseph Moxon, published 1678, →OCLC, page 151

      O, Maskvvell, in vain I do diſguiſe me from thee, thou knovv'ſt me, knovv'ſt the very inmoſt VVindings and Receſſes of my Soul.

      1693 (first performance), [William] Congreve, The Double-Dealer. A Comedy, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], published 1735, →OCLC, Act I, scene vi, page 27

      Firſt, I charged them to make Land-marks, Bearings, and Beacons, as vve might call them, […] at the Reaches and VVindings of the Rivers or Brooks, Falls of VVater, and every thing remarkable; […]

      1725, [Daniel Defoe], “Part II”, in A New Voyage Round the World, by a Course Never Sailed before. […], London: […] A[rthur] Bettesworth, […]; and W. Mears, […], →OCLC, page 83

   4. countableuncountableChiefly followed by up: the act of tightening the spring of a clockwork or other mechanism.

      Is there a Tongue, like Delia’s o’er her cup, / That runs for Ages vvithout vvinding-up?

      1725, [Edward Young], “Satire I. To His Grace the Duke of Dorset.”, in Love of Fame, the Universal Passion. In Seven Characteristical Satires, 4th edition, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson […], published 1741, →OCLC, page 20

   5. countableuncountableSometimes followed by up: the act of hoisting something using a winch or a similar device.
   6. countablefigurativelyin pluraluncountableTwists and turns in an occurrence, in thinking, or some other thing; also, moral crookedness; craftiness, shiftiness.

      Its [facetiousness's] vvays are unaccountable and inexplicable, being anſvverable to the numberleſs rovings of fancy, and vvindings of language.

      a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “The Second Sermon. Ephes[ians] 5. 4.”, in Several Sermons against Evil-Speaking, London: […] Brabazon Aylmer, […], published 1678, →OCLC, page 45

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      For that vvhich he hath novv attained vvith the begging of ſome ſmall peeces of ſiluer, a temporall happins, & preſent hearts eaſe, I cannot compaſſe vvith all my carefull vvindings, & running in & out.

      1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Against Pouerty and Want, with such Other Adversity”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy, […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 2, section 3, member 3, page 404

      It cannot be supposed that the confusion of the two youthful lovers escaped the observation of the wily lawyer, accustomed, by habit and profession, to trace human nature through all her windings.

      1819, Jedediah Cleishbotham [pseudonym; Walter Scott], chapter VII, in Tales of My Landlord, Third Series. […], volume II (The Bride of Lammermoor), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 137

      The Gazette which announced that [Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of] Sunderland had been appointed Chamberlain of the Royal Household, sworn of the Privy Council, and named one of the Lords Justices who were to administer the government during the summer, had caused great uneasiness among plain man who remembered all the windings and doublings of his long career.

      1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XXIII, in Lady Trevelyan (Hannah More Macaulay), editor, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume V, London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts, →OCLC, pages 3–4

   7. UKcountableuncountablenauticalThe act or process of turning a boat or ship in a certain direction.
   8. countableobsoleteuncountableentertainmentA variation in a tune.

      Among the windings of the violins / And the ariettes / Of cracked cornets / Inside my brain a dull tom-tom begins / Absurdly hammering a prelude of its own, / Capricious monotone / That is at least one definite "false note."

      1915 September, T[homas] S[tearns] Eliot, “Portrait of a Lady”, in Prufrock and Other Observations, London: The Egoist […], published 1917, →OCLC, pages 18–19

2. countableuncountableSomething wound around another thing.

   For knovv by lot from Jove I am the povvr / Of this fair VVood, and live in Oak'n bovvr, / To nurſe the Saplings tall, and curl the grove / VVith ringlets quaint, and vvanton vvindings vvove.

   1634, John Milton, “Arcades”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC, pages 53–54

   1. countableuncountablebusinessA length of wire wound around the armature of an electric motor or the core of an electrical transformer.
   2. countableuncountableartsSynonym of lapping (“lengths of fine silk, metal wire, or whalebone wrapped tightly around the stick of the bow of a string instrument adjacent to the leather part of the bow grip at the heel”).

      Synonyms: lapping

   3. countableobsoleteuncountableA decorative object, design, or other thing with curves or twists.
   4. countableobsoleteuncountableexcept dialectalSynonym of withe or withy (“a flexible, slender shoot or twig, especially when used as a band or for binding”); also, all the withies used to make or repair a wall, or the process of using withies in this manner.

      As for the manner of making vvalls, by davvbing vvindings and hurdles vvith mud and clay, also of rearing them othervvhiles vvith unbaked bricke; vvho is ſo ignorant that he knovveth it not?

      1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book XXXV.] Of Mud Walls: Of Bricke Walls, and the Order and Manner of Making Them.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], 2nd tome, London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, page 555

      Synonyms: withe, withy

comparative more winding · superlative most winding

1. Moving in a sinuous or twisting manner.

   Swallows check their winding flight, / And twittering on the chimney light.

   1820, John Clare, “[Poems.] Summer Evening.”, in Poems Descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery, London: […] [T. Miller] for Taylor and Hessey, […]; and E[dward] Drury, […], →OCLC, page 130

   3 more examples

   [H]e [Satan] vvindes himſelfe into this vvinding Beaſt, diſpoſing the Serpents tongue to ſpeake to the vvoman [Eve] […]

   1613, Samuel Purchas, “[Asia.] Of the Fall of Man: And of Originall Sinne.”, in Purchas His Pilgrimage. Or Relations of the World and the Religions Observed in All Ages and Places Discouered, from the Creation vnto this Present. […], London: […] William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, […], →OCLC, book I [Of the First Beginnings of the World and Religion: And of the Regions and Religions of Babylonia, Assyria, Syria, Phænicia, and Palestina], page 20

   Let her forbeare / To taſt thoſe things that are forbidden there. / […] / The ſuck-egge VVeaſell, and the vvinding Svvallovv, / From theſe ſhe ſhall abſtaine, and not unhallovv / Her op'ned lips vvith their polluted fleſh; […]

   1631, Fra[ncis] Quarles, “Sect[ion] 4”, in The Historie of Samson, London: […] M[iles] F[lesher] for Iohn Marriott, […], →OCLC, pages 19–20

   They [two sea serpents] next invade: / Tvvice round his [Laocoön's] vvaſte their vvinding Volumes rovvl'd, / And tvvice about his gaſping Throat they fold.

   1697, Virgil, “The Second Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 243, lines 287–289

2. Sinuous, turning, or twisting in form.

   My people ſhall, by my Command, explore / The Ports and Creeks of ev'ry vvinding ſhore; […]

   1697, Virgil, “The First Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 225, lines 808–809

   5 more examples

   The thinges that hinder a man vvhich loketh at his marke, to ſhoote ſtreight, be theſe: […] a payre of windinge prickes, and many other thinges mo, which you ſhall marke yourſelfe, and as ye knovv them, ſo learne to amende them.

   1545, Roger Ascham, Toxophilus, the Schole of Shootinge […], London: […] Edouardi Whytchurch, →OCLC

   The Current that vvith gentle murmure glides / (Thou knovv'ſt) being ſtop'd, impatiently doth rage: / […] / And ſo by many vvinding nookes he ſtraies / VVith vvilling ſport to the vvilde Ocean.

   c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vii], page 28, column 1

   If his [an ox's] necke ſvvell let him blood, or if his necke be vvinding and vveake [as if it vvere broken] then let him blood in that eare to vvhich ſide the head bendeth.

   1607, Conradus Gesnerus [i.e., Conrad Gessner]; Edward Topsell, “Of Cowes”, in The Historie of Foure-footed Beastes. […], London: […] William Iaggard, →OCLC, page 78

   [I]t vvas ordained, that this VVinding-Iuie of a Plantagenet, ſhould kill the true Tree it ſelfe.

   1622, Francis, Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban [i.e. Francis Bacon], The Historie of the Raigne of King Henry the Seventh, […], London: […] W[illiam] Stansby for Matthew Lownes, and William Barret, →OCLC, page 193

   With Sʳ Robert Clayton to Marden, an estate he had bought lately of my kinsman Sʳ John Evelyn of Godstone in Surrey, which from a despicable farme house Sʳ Robert had erected into a seate with extraordinary expence. 'Tis in such a solitude among hills, as being not above 16 miles from London, seems almost incredible, the ways up to it so winding and intricate.

   1677 October 21 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 12 October 1677]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC, page 493

   1. Chiefly of a staircase: helical, spiral.

      In yᵉ Cour aux Thuilleries is a princely fabriq; the winding geometrical stone stayres, with the cupola, I take to be as bold and noble a piece of architecture as any in Europ of the kind.

      1644 February 17 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 8 February 1644]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC, page 40

      2 more examples

      VVinding Stairs are projected on a round Profile, vvhoſe Diameter is equal to the Baſe the Stair-Caſe is to ſtand on, ſuppoſe ſix foot ſquare. […] If you dravv Lines from the Center through every one of the equal parts of into the Circumference, the ſpace betvveen every tvvo Lines vvill be the true Figure of a VVinding Step.

      1679, Joseph Moxon, “Numb[er] IX. Applied to the Art of House-Carpentery.”, in Mechanick Exercises, or The Doctrine of Handy-Works, […], volume I, London: […] Joseph Moxon, published 1678, →OCLC, page 152

      She left the chapel—very slowly and often turning back to gaze again—and coming to a low door, which plainly led into the tower, opened it, and climbed the winding stair in darkness; save where she looked down through narrow loopholes on the place she had left, or caught a glimmering vision of the dusty bells.

      1840 April – 1841 November, Charles Dickens, “Chapter the Fifty-third”, in The Old Curiosity Shop. A Tale. […], volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1841, →OCLC, page 96

3. figurativelyOf speech, writing, etc.: not direct or to the point; rambling, roundabout.

   I will not heare thee, wife; / The winding laborinth of thy straunge discourse / Will nere haue end.

   c. 1591–1593 (date written), attributed to Anthony Munday, Henry Chettle, William Shakespeare [et al.], edited by Alexander Dyce, Sir Thomas More, a Play; […], London: […] [Frederick Shoberl, Junior] for the Shakespeare Society, published 1844, →OCLC, page 80

   1 more example

   [A]ll vvriters are not of one and the ſame minde, as touching the very name and the firſt inhabitants of Britaine, and I feare me greatly, that no man is able to fetch out the truth, ſo deeply plunged vvithin the vvinding revolutions of ſo many ages, […]

   1610, William Camden, “Britaine”, in Philémon Holland, transl., Britain, or A Chorographicall Description of the Most Flourishing Kingdomes, England, Scotland, and Ireland, […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press for] Georgii Bishop & Ioannis Norton, →OCLC, page 9

   Synonyms: circuitous, circumlocutionary, indirect, meandering, tortuous

4. obsoleteFlexible, pliant.

   1 more example

   To theſe blemiſhes and ſtaines in Court, vvere adjoyned the enormious tranſgreſſions of diſcipline in campe, vvhen the ſouldiour in ſtead of a joyfull ſhout, ſtudied to ſing vvanton ſonnets: neither had the armed man, as before time, a ſtone to couch himſelfe upon, but feathers and delicat vvinding beds: […]

   1609, Ammianus Marcellinus, “[The XXII. Booke.] Chapter III. The Most Ugly and Lothsome Face Described, of the Court and Armie of Iulianus: The Same Princes Impietie, His Hatred and Deceitfull Dealing against Christ and Christians.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Roman Historie, […], London: […] Adam Jslip, →OCLC, page 192

5. figurativelyobsoleteMorally crooked; crafty, shifty.

   I care not though men call me impudent, / Smooth-tongu'd, audacious, petulant, abhominable, / Forger of vvords and lie, contentious Barretour, / Old, vvinding, bragging, teſty, crafty fox.

   1655, Thomas Stanley, “The Clouds of Aristophanes. Added (not as a Comicall Divertisement for the Reader, who can Expect Little in that Kind from a Subject so Antient, and Particular, but) as a Necessary Supplement to the Life of Socrates”, in The History of Philosophy. […], volume I, London: […] Humphrey Moseley, and Thomas Dring, […], →OCLC, 3rd part (Containing the Socratick Philosophers), Act I, scene iii, page 76

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of wind

plural Windings

1. A surname from Danish.