winnow

Definition

To subject (granular material, especially food grain) to a current of air separating heavier and lighter components, as grain from chaff.

Etymology

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.

Example Sentences

• "[W]ind began to winnow the river delta's dried sediments."
• "They winnowed the field to twelve."
• "They winnowed the winners from the losers."