zephyr
/ˈzɛfər/
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
zéphyros — west wind
Overview
Meaning Now
- A soft, gentle breeze.
- A fine, lightweight fabric or article of clothing.
Literal older meaning
west wind
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Ancient Greek → Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
zephirus
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
In Greek mythology, Zephyrus (or Zephyros) was the god of the west wind, believed to be the gentlest of the winds and the messenger of spring. The term was adopted into English poetry during the medieval period to signify a mild, cooling breeze.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
zéphyros
“west wind”
- Latin
zephyrus
“the west wind, personified as a god”
- Old French
zephire
“west wind”
- Middle English
zephirus
“the west wind”
- Modern English
zephyr
“soft breeze”
Connections
Word parts
zephyr
root
west wind
Related across languages
Latin
zephyrus
west wind
French
zéphyr
west wind
Explore next
Related to zephyr
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.