Etymology Apparently from an unrecorded Middle English *gust, from Old Norse gustr (“a gust, blast”), from Proto-Germanic *gustiz, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰew-. Cognate with Icelandic gustur (“gust of wind”). Related also to Old Norse gusa (“to gush forth”), Old High German gussa (“flood”), Middle English guschen (> English gush). The English word was not recorded before Shakespeare.
1
A strong, abrupt rush of wind.
The maximum sustained winds recorded at Waglan Island, Tate’s Cairn and Cheung Chau Beach were 113, 101 and 97 kmh (70, 62, 60 mph) respectively, with maximum gusts 135, 154 and 130 kmh (84, 96, 81 mph)2017 August 26, Anne Marie Roantree, Venus Wu, “Battered Hong Kong and Macau brace for Pakhar, more flooding”, in Andrew Hay, editor, Reuters, archived from the original on 05 Aug 2023, COMMODITIES NEWS:
2
Broadly Any rush or outburst (of water, emotion, etc.).
they are merely driven about by every sudden gust and impulse of the mind1609 (revised 1625), Francis Bacon, De Sapientia Veterum ('Wisdom of the Ancients')
The author is not speaking now of actual love-makings, of intrigues and devilish villany, either perpetrated or imagined; but rather of those passing gusts of short-lived and unfounded suspicion to which, as to other accidents, very well-regulated families may occasionally be liable.1869 May, Anthony Trollope, “Hard Words”, in He Knew He Was Right, volume I, London: Strahan and Company, […], →OCLC, page 73:
Etymology Apparently from an unrecorded Middle English *gust, from Old Norse gustr (“a gust, blast”), from Proto-Germanic *gustiz, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰew-. Cognate with Icelandic gustur (“gust of wind”). Related also to Old Norse gusa (“to gush forth”), Old High German gussa (“flood”), Middle English guschen (> English gush). The English word was not recorded before Shakespeare.
1
To blow in gusts.
Do the dryers disperse bacteria and viruses through the restroom, like autumn breezes gusting leaves across a lawn?2019 April 25, Samanth Subramanian, “Hand dryers v paper towels: the surprisingly dirty fight for the right to dry your hands”, in The Guardian:
gust
noun
Etymology From Middle English gust, guste, from Latin gustus (“taste”) and Old French gust, goust.
, "The Spirit of Grace" An ox will relish the tender flesh of kids with as much gust and appetite.
Destroy all creatures for thy sport or gust.1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. […], (please specify |epistle=I to IV), London: […] J[ohn] Wilford, […], →OCLC:
1 more example
1942: ‘Yes, indeed,’ said Sava with solemn gust. — Rebecca West, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon (Canongate 2006, p. 1050)
3
Intellectual taste; fancy.
A choice of it may be made according to the gust and manner of the ancients.1695, C[harles] A[lphonse] du Fresnoy, translated by John Dryden, De Arte Graphica. The Art of Painting, […], London: […] J[ohn] Heptinstall for W. Rogers, […], →OCLC:
gust
verb
Etymology From Middle English gusten (“to taste, have a taste for”), from the noun (see above).