windrow

American  

[wind-roh, win-] / ˈwɪndˌroʊ, ˈwɪn- /

noun

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

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

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

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verb (used with object)

1. to arrange in a windrow.

windrow British  

/ ˈwɪndˌrəʊ, ˈwɪnˌrəʊ /

noun

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

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

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

• windrower
  noun

Etymology

Origin of windrow

First recorded in 1515–25; wind ¹ + row ¹

Example Sentences

One of the walls is black with mould, which is also around the windrow frame and along the ceiling.

From BBC • Aug. 15, 2023

“You had people showing up to turn a windrow — which is a compost pile — week after week.”

From New York Times • May 28, 2018

He took part in the Boston Tea Party which "spread a windrow of tea from Boston all the way to Dorchester."

From Time Magazine Archive

Piled in a windrow in one corner of the room was a great heap of clothing.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

Early on the morning of the 17th, a long windrow of tea, "about as big as you ever saw of hay," was seen extending from the wharves down to the castle.

From Tea Leaves Being a Collection of Letters and Documents relating to the shipment of Tea to the American Colonies in the year 1773, by the East India Tea Company. (With an introduction, notes, and biographical notices of the Boston Tea Party) by Drake, Francis S. (Francis Samuel)