Sough
[səf]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Middle English, 14th century
1.
A moaning, whistling, or rushing sound as made by the wind in the trees or the sea.
Examples of Sough in a sentence
"We could hear the gentle sough of the creek before we could see it."
"The house was surrounded by cornfields, which emitted a sough every time the wind picked up."
About Sough
“Sough” is a Middle English word likely based on the Old English “swōgan,” meaning “to make a sound” or “to roar.”
Did you Know?
Before “sough” was a noun referring to a soft rustle or murmur, the word was a verb for making such a sound. As a Middle English verb, “sough” was closely associated with “swough” and based on the Old English “swōgan.” In the early days, when “sough” was a verb, the noun form of the word as we know it today was “swei,” based on the Old English “swēg.” Both words were associated with the verb “swoon” — also based on “swōgan,” which could be translated as “to make a sound” or “to suffocate.”
