zephyrhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zephyr_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezephyr, n.
Revised 2018

zephyrnoun

    1. 1.a.
      Old English–
      The west wind, frequently personified; (Greek Mythology) the god of the west wind. Cf. Favonius n.
      In quot. a1398 at α: the west-south-west wind.
      α forms
      1. OE
        Nis zefferus, se swifta wind, þæt swa fromlice mæg feran æghwær.
        Riddle 40 68
      2. (a1398)
        Fauonius, þe westerne wynde..haþ bysides hym tweye wyndes. Þe on hatte Circius, þe west northwest wynde, þe oþir hatte Zephirus, þe west souþwest wynde.
        J. Trevisa, translation of Bartholomaeus Anglicus, De Proprietatibus Rerum (British Library Add. MS. 27944) (1975) vol. I. xi. iii. 574
        [Composed a1398]
      3. c1400 (?c1380)
        Syþen he..sayez vnte Zeferus þat he syfle warme.
        Patience l. 470 (Middle English Dictionary)
        [Composed ?c1380]
      4. c1405–95 (c1387–95)
        Zephirus..wt his sweete breeth.
        G. Chaucer, Canterbury Tales Prologue (Hengwrt MS.) (2003) l. 5
        [Composed c1387–95]
      5. 1523
        There blew in that gardynge a soft piplyng colde Enbrethyng of zepherus wt his pleasant wynde.
        J. Skelton, Goodly Garlande of Laurell sig. C.ijv
      6. 1594
        Zephyrus sweete smelling blast.
        1st Part of Raigne of Selimus (ad fin.)
      7. c1616
        Art thou perhaps that purest breathing aire, Sweet Zephirus?
        R. C., Certaine Poems in Times' Whistle (1871) 116
      8. 1667
        With voice Milde, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes.
        J. Milton, Paradise Lost v. 16
      9. 1712
        The Zephyrus, the West-Wind, blows from Thracia.
        J. Ozell, translation of A. Dacier, Life of Homer 18 in translation of Homer, Iliad vol. I
      10. 1774
        Zephyrus, or the West Wind.
        Ambulator 65
      11. 1821
        Her marriage with the gentle Zephyrus must have singularly promoted the welfare of her delicate subjects.
        New Monthly Magazine vol. 2 393
      12. 1898
        Like a gossamer puffed by summer Zephyrus.
        G. Meredith, Letters (1912) vol. II. 498
      13. 1937
        Is Zephyrus more light on the bough, Apeliota more light on the almond branch?
        E. Pound, Fifth Decad of Cantos xlvii. 38
      14. 2014
        Blow sweet Zephyrus, usher in spring.
        Gloucestershire Echo (Nexis) 19 April 11
      β forms
      1. 1567
        Breathing from the mouth of Zephire the ayre of health.
        G. Fenton, translation of M. Bandello, Certaine Tragicall Discourses f. 226v
      2. 1583
        The setting of the Sun, and shutting in of nighte, belong to Zephyr.
        B. Melbancke, Philotimus (new edition) sig. Zivv
      3. 1594
        Sweet Myrh-breathing Zephyre.
        M. Drayton, Ideas Mirrour sig. C3
      4. 1598
        When the hollow floode of ayre in Zephyres cheeks doth swel.
        G. Chapman, translation of Homer, Seauen Bookes of Iliades vii. 120
      5. 1645
        Zephir with Aurora playing, As he met her once a Maying.
        J. Milton, L'Allegro in Poems 31
      6. 1750
        Regions in which no wind is heard but the gentle Zephyr.
        S. Johnson, Rambler No. 80. ⁋3
      7. 1823
        Words more soft than Zephyr.
        ‘B. Cornwall’, Flood of Thessaly i. 89
      8. 1920
        Fevered brows of prisoners forlorn,..stirring 'neath sweet Zephyr's soft caress.
        J. Farnol, Geste of Duke Jocelyn vi. 109
      9. 1998
        On rare occasion, the wind god, Zephyr, smiles upon me.
        St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch (Nexis) 21 May 13
    2. 1.b.
      1567–
      A gentle, mild wind or breeze.
      1. 1567
        The straungers passinge by, imparting of the ayre and wholsomnes of the place by the breathe of a milde zephir, are drawen thether by delite.
        G. Fenton, translation of M. Bandello, Certaine Tragicall Discourses f. 125
      2. a1616
        They are as gentle As Zephires blowing below the Violet, Not wagging his sweet head.
        W. Shakespeare, Cymbeline (1623) iv. ii. 173
      3. 1683
        The pure thin sweet Vapours of the Air (which are the Refreshing Zephiri of Nature).
        T. Tryon, Way to Health 47
      4. 1718
        While gentle Zephyrs play in prosp'rous Gales.
        M. Prior, Henry & Emma 389
      5. 1764
        No Zephyr fondly sooths the mountain's breast.
        O. Goldsmith, Traveller 10
      6. 1807
        The flowers, the zephyrs, and the warblers of spring, returning after their tedious absence.
        Salmagundi 2 June 219
      7. 1883
        The zephyrs breathed softly from the south.
        M. B. Betham-Edwards, Disarmed x
      8. 1927
        Unmistakably the gentle zephyr of a few minutes ago has become a breeze.
        Motor Boating January 110/2
      9. 1956
        He set up a fan to blow over the wet hay and..cool zephyrs flitted through his hot barn.
        Boys' Life August 4/3
      10. 2002
        Neptune..lulls us into complacency with placid waters and warm zephyrs, then commissions a cold front or hurricane to muddle the mix.
        Yachting February 38/1
    1. 2.a.
      1774–
      Any of various lightweight or thin articles of clothing or accessories, such as a light shawl, scarf, or coat; (in later use) spec. a light shirt worn by a sportsperson.
      1. 1774
        Negligees of pale lutestring,..with tassels and zephyrs in fancy, or of muslin.
        Westminster Magazine May 259/1
      2. 1821
        Just received from New-York—20 dozen elegant French Scarfs (or Zephyrs,) elegant patterns, which are going for the low price of $1 each.
        Boston Daily Advertiser 22 May 2/5 (advertisement)
      3. 1830
        Some wear little square shawls of soft crape, called zephyrs.
        Lady's Magazine 31 May 284/2
      4. 1843
        He was dressed in a coat called a Zephyr.
        E. Fitzgerald, Letter (1980) vol. I. 385
      5. 1887
        When the athlete has got a pair of the best shoes, a zephyr, and a pair of silk or merino drawers,..he has got all the stock-in-trade required to win half-a-dozen championships.
        M. Shearman, Athletics & Football (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) 68
      6. 1891
        He sat upon the sofa, where my hat, My wanton Zephyr, rested on its rim.
        R. F. Murray, Scarlet Gown 6
      7. 1927
        [Ozarks] Zephyr,..a woman's wrap. Usually a knitted or crocheted diamond-shaped thing worn over the head and shoulders.
        Dialect Notes vol. 5 479
      8. 1987
        We wore black gym-shoes, rugger zephyrs and trousers.
        R. Fiennes, Living Dangerously iii. 27
      9. 2012
        She gave an interview to the fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar..while posing slinkily in a zephyr of lace.
        Daily Telegraph (Nexis) 3 February 28
    2. 2.b.
      1819–
      A very fine, light, cotton gingham cloth, used esp. for women's dresses; a piece or variety of this. Now chiefly historical.
      1. 1819
        Gauze and zephyrs for your picture frames and looking-glasses, sir.
        Blackwood's Magazine April 487/1
      2. 1863
        [To] measure a yard of calico..or choose a shade of zephyr.
        B. Taylor, Hannah Thurston vol. I. 128
      3. 1898
        Another item of interest in the Wash Dress Goods Department, is Lace Zephyrs in Gingham effects.
        Church Standard 5 March 620/1 (advertisement)
      4. 1905
        I'm sorting up zephyrs to-morrow, Sir.
        H. G. Wells, Kipps i. vi. §1
      5. 1940
        Scarfs for your fall ensemble. Ascots and longs in chiffon, wool, fine zephyrs and satin.
        Wellsboro (Pennsylvania) Agitator 16 October 4/4 (advertisement)
      6. 2008
        He'd never lost his fascination with fabric. He knew all the fancy names and adjectives—organdy, tulle, crepe de chine, damask, moire, zephyr, batiste.
        S. Hay, Secret of Lost Things iv. 48
  1. 3.
    1835–
    More fully zephyr anglewing. A North American comma butterfly, now usually regarded as a hoary comma of the subspecies Polygonia gracilis zephyrus.
    Formerly treated as a separate species, P. zephyrus.
    1. 1835
      Zephyr butterfly seen.
      E. Shore, Journal 22 April (1891) 107
    2. 1898
      Grapta zephyrus.., (The Zephyr).
      W. J. Holland, Butterfly Book 166
    3. 1950
      Polygonia zephyrus Edw... The Zephyr is a Rocky Mountain member of the angle-wing clan.
      J. S. Garth, Butterflies of Grand Canyon National Park 26
    4. 1992
      The Zephyr Anglewing is a common butterfly in our region.
      T. C. Emmel et al., Florissant Butterflies 71
  2. 4.
    1847–
    A member of the Bataillons d'Infanterie Légère d'Afrique, a light infantry corps in the French army serving in North Africa, made up of convicted criminals who had not yet performed military service, and serving soldiers assigned for breaches of discipline. Now historical.
    The corps was formed in 1832 and disbanded in 1972.
    1. 1847
      Zephyr’ is a cant term for a particular (penal) corps in the French ‘army of Africa’... Even Frenchmen acknowledge that the cruelty of the ‘Zephyrs’ surpasses belief.
      E. Plunkett, Past & Future British Navy (ed. 2) iv. 96
    2. 1854
      Zephyrs is a nickname given in Algeria to a corps which is recruited from..the French army.
      Household Words vol. 8 145/1
    3. 1882
      If a zouave is as brave as a lion, it is safe to say that a ‘Zephyr’ is as brave as two.
      A. de Vervins, Mus. Mosaic 26
    4. 1911
      Service with the ‘Zephyrs’, the malefactors of the French army.
      Blackwood's Magazine May 595/2
    5. 1998
      Replaced by men of the African battalion, who were also designated by the names of the Joyful or the Zephyrs.
      W. E. J. Tips, translation of P. Neis, Sino-Vietnamese Border Demarcation viii. 47
  3. 5.
    1862–
    Any of various sweet or savoury dishes having a light or fluffy texture, typically produced by whipping egg whites to a foam, as a meringue, soufflé, etc.
    1. 1862
      These zephyrs must be dredged over with sugar previously to their being put in the oven.
      C. E. Francatelli, Royal English & Foreign Confectioner xix. 187
    2. ?1894
      Zephyrs, these might almost be described under the heading of Soufflés.
      T. F. Garrett et al., Encycl. Pract. Cookery Division VIII. 805/1
    3. 1918
      Corn Zephyrs. Mix with the cornmeal mush left from breakfast enough hot milk to make thin enough to whip... Whip in the stiffly beaten white of one egg.
      B. E. L. Stockbridge, Liberty Cook Book 159
    4. 1985
      Cunningham and John Hudspeth, the proprietor, did try a fanciful little breakfast modernity, a kind of soufflé called lemon zephyr.
      Washington Post (Nexis) 16 October e1

zephyr, n. was revised in June 2018.

zephyr, n. was last modified in December 2024.