Definition of gust

The word "gust" originated from the Old French word "goster," which means "to hurry" or "to have a fit of emotion." This verb, which dates back to the 13th century, can be found in the Old French word "gost," which refers to a breath or a puff of wind. In Middle English, the word evolved into "gosten" and then "gusten" in the 15th century. The English language then took this word and modified it to its current form, "gust," which now refers to a sudden, strong wind or a brief, intense experience of a particular sensation, such as taste or feeling. The Old French word "goster" itself derived from the Latin word "vis," which means "strength" or "force." This Latin root accounts for the word's association with feeling a strong, forceful blow of wind or emotion. In modern usage, the word "gust" can have both literal and figurative meanings, depending on the context. It can describe a sudden, forceful wind that lasts for a short period of time, like during a thunderstorm or in a tight pass, or it could refer to a sudden, intense sensation, like a particular flavor in a meal or a sudden feeling of happiness or pleasure.