Winnowing
/ˈwɪn.oʊ.ɪŋ/noun
The process of separating grain from chaff or unwanted material.
Did you know?In ancient agricultural rituals, winnowing was often accompanied by chants and dances, believed to invoke blessings for a bountiful harvest.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wēn-
“to blow, to fan, to breathe”
Old English
Old English
windwian
“to drive away, to fan out (grain)”
Middle English
Middle English
wenounen
“to separate grain by fanning”
15th Century
Middle English
winnowing
“the act of separating grain from chaff by means of wind or air”
Modern English
English
winnowing
“the process of separating the desirable parts of grain from the inedible or unwanted parts.”