sough

Meanings

Verb

• To make a soft rustling or murmuring sound.
• To drain.

Noun

• A murmuring sound; rushing, rustling, or whistling sound.
• A gentle breeze; a waft; a breath.
• A (deep) sigh.
• A vague rumour.
• A cant or whining mode of speaking, especially in preaching or praying.
• A small drain; an adit.

Origin

• 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-Germanic *swōganą from Proto-Indo-European *(s)weh₂gʰ-, same source as Latin vāgiō. Cognate with Scots souch ("sough"), Icelandic súgur ("a rushing sound, rustle"). Noun replaced Middle English swei, sweȝ from Old English swēg. More at swoon.
• From Middle English sough (whence also Scots sheuch ("ditch")), from Old English *sōh; compare dialectal Dutch zoeg ("ditch").