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Sough

//saʊ// name, noun, verb

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A hamlet in Kelbrook and Sough parish, Pendle borough, Lancashire, England (OS grid ref SD9045).
Noun
  1. 1
    A murmuring sound; rushing, rustling, or whistling sound.

    "[...] Arthur; a fearful night it was: there was a sough in the air, a sound drawing nigh like that of a host marching:- — but you're looking pale and forwrought, man; is any thing ailing ye?"

  2. 2
    A small drain; an adit.
  3. 3
    A gentle breeze; a waft; a breath.
  4. 4
    A (deep) sigh.
  5. 5
    A vague rumour. Scotland, obsolete
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    A cant or whining mode of speaking, especially in preaching or praying. Scotland, obsolete
Verb
  1. 1
    To make a soft rustling or murmuring sound.

    "I lay awake for a while that evening, listening to the soughing of the wind high in the pines, realizing sadly that we must now return to civilization."

  2. 2
    To drain.
  3. 3
    make a murmuring sound wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English *sough, swough, swogh, from Middle English swoȝen, swowen, from Old English swōgan (“to make a sound; move with noise; rush; roar”), from Proto-West Germanic *swōgan, from Proto-Germanic *swōganą from Proto-Indo-European *sweh₂gʰ-, same source as English echo (via Ancient Greek). Cognate with Scots souch (“sough”), Icelandic súgur (“a rushing sound, rustle”). Noun replaced Middle English swei, sweȝ from Old English swēg. More at swoon.

Etymology 2

From Middle English *sough, swough, swogh, from Middle English swoȝen, swowen, from Old English swōgan (“to make a sound; move with noise; rush; roar”), from Proto-West Germanic *swōgan, from Proto-Germanic *swōganą from Proto-Indo-European *sweh₂gʰ-, same source as English echo (via Ancient Greek). Cognate with Scots souch (“sough”), Icelandic súgur (“a rushing sound, rustle”). Noun replaced Middle English swei, sweȝ from Old English swēg. More at swoon.

Etymology 3

From Middle English sough (whence also Scots sheuch (“ditch”)), from Old English *sōh, ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *sīk (“watercourse”); compare dialectal Dutch zoeg (“ditch”), and English sitch.

Etymology 4

From Middle English sough (whence also Scots sheuch (“ditch”)), from Old English *sōh, ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *sīk (“watercourse”); compare dialectal Dutch zoeg (“ditch”), and English sitch.

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