In my last reading of The Thread That Runs So True I was reminded of the way we use the word wind to mean breath.
In the book Jesse Stuart says “…my legs and my wind were good. Ten miles a day wasn’t any walking for me.”
Jesse meant he was in good shape and didn’t get out of breath easily.
I’ve heard wind used in that manner all my life.
I looked in a few of my reference books to see if wind was in the list of words. I only found it in one.
The Dixie Dictionary has this entry: wind v to pause for a breath.
The Deer Hunter says he’s out of wind when he’s going at a hard climb up the mountain and has to stop and rest.
Pap would say about someone who wasn’t in good shape “He ain’t got enough wind to be working like that.”
I’ve heard people say they had to stop and catch their wind and even people say in a teasing manner that their belly was cutting their wind off.
In Jesse’s day folks were used to walking long stretches, not so much today. Because of the storm many people have suddenly been thrust back to those days of walking. They are walking a far piece to get supplies or to check on a neighbor. I’m hoping they’ve all got plenty of wind. Please continue to pray for them and the people giving them aid.
Last night’s video: The Thread That Runs So True 22.
Tipper
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My Scottish grandfather would talk about “being winded” as in out of breath.
I’m sorry Tipper, I haven’t been posting much. My little woman I’ve been taking care of passed away Tuesday night about 10:00 pm. It’s just been so hard. My mind is going a mile a minute. I’m gonna miss her so much. She battled cancer for yrs. She was a very special woman. So smart and still had s great mind at 95 yrs old. I loved our talks and advice she gave me. She really knew her flowers. Knew everyone of them. She loved flowers. I would pick her some and put them in a vase and set them on her table. That would bring a big smile across her face. Remember her family tomorrow as we have visitation and Monday she will be laid to rest. Thanks Tipper.
Gigi-I am praying for you and for her family. I’m so sorry.
I had a coach when I was in high school in the 60’s that was all the time telling us “ don’t smoke them blame cigarettes cause they’ll cut your wind “
A few examples from the backwoods of the auld country.
lang winded (using too many words when one’ll do) .
Hauld yer whine! (Hold your wind, be quiet).
Yer an auld blow! ( puffed up, full of your own importance).
Here’s hoping you guys don’t get any further hurricane land falls.
My Papaw used to say, “Let’s set a minute son, I need to catch my wind.” What I didn’t realize as a kid was that he’d been a coal miner as a young man and he’d had a lung removed due to Hodgkin’s disease. His voice came back to me the morning before I had quad bypass surgery at 39. I was walking up the hill to work, had severe angina, and I know I heard, “Better set a minute son and catch your wind.” I did. I’m still here 26 years later.
Remember “wind sprints” on the football field and in the gym when it rained. Wind sprints kept you from getting winded. When the coach saw you were not winded after he finally stopped the whole group he would give you more to run. That’s how I learned how to pant, turn pale and topple over. “Drag him off the field, we’ve got a practice to get in!”
My mama always says she gets winded easily, or she has to stop and catch her wind. It is a very common usage of the word here in my part of WV.
It is a very beautiful day—The sun is shining, the temps are in the low 70’s, and the leaves are turning. Hubby is working on splitting wood for the cold days ahead and I am enjoying putting up some dried flower seeds in envelopes for next year and cleaning my house. I pause, and think I feel a little guilty for having such a lovely day to enjoy—knowing how many people are suffering from the storm—I am praying for them daily.
Following the storm disasters from here in California–my niece lives in the little town of Matoaka, WV, has been without power since the 27th of Sept, expected time of back on prolonged each day, that area of the country rarely mentioned by media, She feels spared with only power off, has generators to keep food from spoiling and to charge up cell phones. Having grown up in those mountains, seeing all the destruction so saddens me, the loss of lives even more, praying for the souls of all those lost as well as the hard days ahead for those who remain.
I’ve been winded many a time!
I too, am keeping those in my heart who are overcoming this devastating flooding.
I had totally forgotten that saying Tipper…my papa used to say it…then over the years it seemed wind became ‘breath’ as in ‘out of breath’ or ‘got to stop for a breath’…thanks for the memory to start my day…wishing y’all a good one and good ‘wind.’
Since I know everyone could use a chuckle, I’ll tell y’all the only way I ever heard my gran use “wind” other than speaking about what everyone had too much of with Helene… it was, “break…”
“He got his second wind”
A term that I’ve often heard used with respect to being able to travel in the woods is “long-winded.” A quick check in the Dictionary of Smoky Mountain English and the expanded Dictionary of Southern Appalachian English found that it isn’t mentioned in either.
In his book “20 Years Hunting and Fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains,” Sam Hunnicutt tells (in Story Number Thirty-Four) about the time he, Mark Cathey, preacher O.P. Williams and a few others went to the Bryson Place on a bear hunt. They left the Bryson City and lower Deep Creek area one morning with plans to settle in and get an early start the next day.
But by that evening, there were forty people in the camp. So Sam and Mark made it up between them to thin the ranks, so to speak. Mark took the standers seven to nine miles from the camp. Sam said:
“I took the rest of the crowd and made the bogus drive. First I waded the creek and they all waded it too; I then went through the roughest places I could find, FOR I WAS LONG-WINDED, and kept this up all day. I made the round, and some of the boys began to fall out before I had gone half way, and before I got back to camp I had only a few with me. Their dogs were loose all over the mountains dragging their chains and straps or whatever they were tied with. When the crowd got back to camp and had eaten they began cursing bear hunting and started home. This cut our crowd down to about eleven. These I considered good bear hunters. ” (capitalized emphasis is mine)
A re-issue of Sam’s book which was coordinated by Special Collections at Western Carolina includes a foreword by br’er Jim. It is available (free) on-line here:
https://libres.uncg.edu/ir/wcu/listing.aspx?id=29085
It is basically a collection of stories, told by Sam, about outings which mostly took place in the Deep Creek section of Swain County, where both Sam and his frequent companion, Mark Cathey, both lived. I’m admittedly something of an insider when it comes to both the geographical area and the people mentioned in the book. But from that biased position, I have no qualms about saying that it is unquestionably the most authoritative view of the nature of the nature of mountain society in the latter 19th and early 20th century. It is a far different perspective than that offered by other, more celebrated writers of the era who didn’t have family and roots in these mountains.
Maybe if Tipper wants me to, I could write a little piece about why I consider that to be the case.
Don-we all would love for you to write something about it 🙂
Hear! Hear!
“Long winded” is also used to describe people who talk too much . . . don’t know when to shut up.
I’ve heard it used in that context more often in my 80+ years than to mean being physically strong.
Good morning Tipper.
It’s a beautiful morning here in Colorado. I’m sitting here watching the wind gently move the leaves around. I used to have a mare named Miss Easter Wind and when I would ride her up a hill she would always break wind. I’d ride in front of my brother Windy on his horse, just to be ornery. His given name was Wendell, he was and is great at telling a story, full of wind. I thought I share a few more ways to use wind I hope you have a blessed day. Praying for all and everything the Lord lays upon my heart.
Dad gum, I had power overnight and thought I would get me some biscuits this morning but now the power is off again, there are several problems that has now showed up including a line falling again staring a grass fire. I did get coffee, sausage, eggs and grits, but no biscuits all cooked on my Coleman camping stove. Maybe it won’t be 8 days this time!
How about longwinded people, especially preachers?
Ed-I’ve heard that one all my life too but never thought about long winded preachers actually having a lot of wind but my they sure do 🙂 Thank you!
I’ve had the wind knocked out of me too.
I’ve heard people describe being out of breath as “winded” all my 60 plus life. There’s a lot of interchange in the Bible between wind, spirit and the breath of God, which fascinates and inspires me. “Inspire” is also the word for breathing in or inhaling and “expire” is breathing out. Sometimes it’s used for breathing the last breath. Tipper, I am like you- plum foolish about words and their histories.
I’ve heard wind used the same way all my life. My brother-in-law said my friend Kathy sure does talk a lot. I said, yep, she is the long-windedest person I’ve ever seen.
I’ve mainly heard it used in a slightly different context although the the same underlying thrust; namely, someone says “I’m winded” when they are tired or need to catch their breath. I guess “catching their breath” is another expression of a similar nature.
My folks passed down the use of the word “wind” to me in a couple of ways. If you got hit in the belly or fell down belly first you might get the wind knocked out of you. if you had to run a spell or worked hard at a task you might get winded. I’m finding out that much of Appalachian language is similar or same as my southern and midwest upbringing. I think it could just be the era in which I grew up.
Praying for all the folks devastated by the storm.
Had not heard that use of “wind” in a great long while, but as with many things you bring up, it is totally familiar. One related use is “winded” (out of breath); for example, “I declare! I got plumb winded going over the ridge.” It was a regular occurrence in my mountain working days.
I’ve used the word wind to mean breath. Now days I get winded easily when walking fast. Sadly, that’s true.
I have heard winded-like I got winded unloading the hay. My heart aches for the people of Western North Carolina & East Tennessee and all the other places damaged by Helene, but Western North Carolina holds a special place in my heart. Tipper, do you know if the Federal Government has done anything to help those poor people? I wish I could help other than giving a monetary donation to our local church here in Columbus, MS. Prayers for all involved.
Cheryl-Thank you for your donations and prayers!! There are many individuals stepping in to help and all are greatly appreciated!!
I use the phrase “I’m winded” meaning I’m out of breath. Hang on I’ve got to catch my wind. I use this phrase all the time.
Using the word wind to mean breath is beyond common to me as well. Or if someone is out of breath, you will often hear them say they are winded. it is certainly true that people now days just aren’t in the shape for walking like people were back then. I usually walk a fair amount during most weeks and while I’m sure that I could do 10 miles, I’m certainly not going to pretend that it would be easy or nothing for me. And if there were many hills in it I’m sure that eventually I would have to rest and catch my wind.
Still praying for everyone there. I have 88 and 90 year old married friends in Black Mountain I still haven’t heard from (old friends I would only hear from once or twice a year anyway).
I love The Thread That Runs So True. I grew up in western Kentucky, opposite end from the mountains but we were encouraged to read Jesse Stuart’s books. I learned so much from them. I just reread Thread again a couple of years ago. Highly recommend.
I’ve heard of someone getting the wind nocked out of them or being winded.
Prayers continue for all effected by the storm and those rendering aid.
Tipper, you are a treasure! I know we all say this, but we truly mean it!
You work so hard to keep the ways/words alive and we are all so grateful.
Your tears become our tears. I am always touched by you and your family.
When people are cruel we must remember the Word of our Savior. “if they persecute Me they will persecute you also”. When we remember that we can grant grace and move on. I tell my children/grandchildren when someone says something hurtful, “don’t let it stick”, meaning don’t take them to heart and dwell on them. Hurt people hurt people.
If we are short of breath we say “we’re winded”… and then there is the other end…Passing wind. Lol
And to all who read this, y’all are in our prayers. Randy, I pray for you daily that God’s face shine upon you. I don’t always post, but I’m always reading. Y’all are my extended family.. Love to all
POWER ON! It came back on about 8 o’clock last night. Hard to sleep I am so happy but at the same time I feel bad for the others that still do not have power. If the power companies are right, I think MOST but not all of the remaining ones in my area will have their power back on by the end of the weekend.
I read a local new station article last night about two fire fighters in the upstate being killed on the morning the Hurricane came through. It was the chief and 18 year old young man. They left together to go on a call but later on could not be contacted or found. The boy’s grandfather fought his way through downed trees and found them, a tree had fell on their truck crushing them. The grandfather said his grandson’s last words to him were”Papa, I have got to go”. My mind can not comprehend the pain this grandfather is going through. I only know if it was one of my grandsons they would be burring me with him. A grandparent’s love for their grandchildren can not be explained with words.
I also read where the mayor of Chimney Rock said that Chimney Rock , Bat Cave, and Lake Lure would rebuild but Chimney Rock and the river were forever more changed, we will now only have memories of how it used to be.
Now about having good wind, I have heard it said about both men and horses/mules having good wind. I have also heard it said about someone being full of wind! That is not a compliment.