windrow

[wind-roh, win-]

noun

a row or line of hay raked together to dry before being raked into heaps.

any similar row, as of sheaves of grain, made for the purpose of drying.

a row of dry leaves, dust, etc., swept together by the wind.

verb (used with object)

to arrange in a windrow.

Origin of windrow

First recorded in 1515–25; wind¹ + row¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for windrow

Mark and Mr. Royden threw on the remainder of the windrow, making a large, unshapely load.
Father Brighthopes|John Townsend Trowbridge
Rake and press combined would be preferable, but would not object to its taking the hay in the windrow.
Scientific American, Vol. XXXIX.--No. 24. [New Series.], December 14, 1878|Various
It should be cut just as it is coming into flower, and should be cured in the windrow.
The Fat of the Land|John Williams Streeter
Thad had from time to time noticed that they came upon a windrow of fallen timber, all the trees lying in one direction.
The Boy Scouts Through the Big Timber|Herbert Carter

Pull up the turnips, top and tail them, then throw them in a sort of windrow, and let them lie a few days to dry.
Mrs. Hale's Receipts for the Million|Sarah Josepha Hale

British Dictionary definitions for windrow

windrow

noun

a long low ridge or line of hay or a similar crop, designed to achieve the best conditions for drying or curing

a line of leaves, snow, dust, etc, swept together by the wind

verb

(tr) to put (hay or a similar crop) into windrows

Derived Formswindrower, noun

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

Word Origin and History for windrow

1520s, from wind (n.1) + row (n.). Because it is exposed to the wind for drying.