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windage

[win-dij]
noun
  1. the influence of the wind in deflecting a missile.
  2. the amount of such deflection.
  3. the degree to which a gunsight must be adjusted to correct for windage.
  4. a difference between the diameter of a projectile and that of the gun bore, for the escape of gas and the prevention of friction.
  5. Nautical. that portion of a vessel's surface upon which the wind acts.
  6. Machinery. friction between a rotor and the air within its casing, as in an electric generator.
  7. Electricity. the resisting influence of air against the rotating armature of a dynamo, creating a power loss.
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Origin of windage

First recorded in 1700–10; wind1 + -age
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for windage

Historical Examples of windage

  • Windage in the English gun of 1750 was about 20 percent greater than in French pieces.

    Artillery Through the Ages

    Albert Manucy

  • Changes in the line of sight are made by changing the elevation and windage.

  • Then look at the windage chart and see just how much windage you must take.

  • Therefore 1/4 to 1/2 windage into the sun (right in this case) should be taken to overcome this.

  • Captain Porter fell, stunned by the windage of a shot, but got to his feet unaided.

    Pike & Cutlass

    George Gibbs

British Dictionary definitions for windage

windage

noun
    1. a deflection of a projectile as a result of the effect of the wind
    2. the degree of such deflection
    3. the extent to which it is necessary to adjust the wind gauge of a gun sight in order to compensate for such deflection
  2. the difference between a firearm's bore and the diameter of its projectile
  3. nautical the exposed part of the hull of a vessel responsible for wind resistance
  4. the retarding force upon a rotating machine resulting from the drag of the air
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012