sough

English

Etymology 1

Old English swōgan, from Proto-Germanic *swōganan.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /saʊ/, /sʌf/

Verb

sough (third-person singular simple present soughs, present participle soughing, simple past and past participle soughed)

1. To make a soft rustling or murmuring sound.
   • 1963, Sterling North, Rascal, Avon Books (softcover), p 101:

     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.

Translations

to make this sound

• Finnish: havista (fi)

• Maori: tihi (mi), tihitihi (mi)

Noun

sough (plural soughs)

1. A rushing, rustling sound.
   • W. Howitt

     The whispering leaves or solemn sough of the forest.

2. A sigh.
3. (Scotland, obsolete) A vague rumour.
4. (Scotland, obsolete) A cant or whining mode of speaking, especially in preaching or praying.

Translations

the sound itself

• Finnish: havina (fi)

• Russian: шелест (ru) (šélest) m

See also

• susurrus

Etymology 2

Uncertain.

Noun

sough (plural soughs)

1. A small drain; an adit.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of W. M. Buchanan to this entry?)