to free (grain) from the lighter particles of chaff, dirt, etc., especially by throwing it into the air and allowing the wind or a forced current of air to blow away impurities.
to drive or blow (chaff, dirt, etc.) away by fanning.
to blow upon; fan.
to subject to some process of separating or distinguishing; analyze critically; sift: to winnow a mass of statements.
to separate or distinguish (valuable from worthless parts) (sometimes followed by out): to winnow falsehood from truth.
to pursue (a course) with flapping wings in flying.
to fan or stir (the air) as with the wings in flying.
verb (used without object)
to free grain from chaff by wind or driven air.
to fly with flapping wings; flutter.
noun
a device or contrivance used for winnowing.
an act of winnowing.
Origin of winnow
before 900;Middle Englishwin(d)wen (v.), Old Englishwindwian, derivative of windwind1
Related formswin·now·er, nounun·win·nowed, adjective
Old English windwian, from wind "air in motion, paring down," see wind (n.1). Cognate with Old Norse vinza, Old High German winton "to fan, winnow," Gothic diswinþjan "to throw (grain) apart," Latin vannus "winnowing fan."
