Relish, enjoyment, or personal taste in older writing, now mostly replaced by gusto or taste.
Examples
The old sermon speaks of appetite and gust.
He read the poem with scholarly gust.
The phrase preserves an older gust for lively enjoyment.
Her letters show a refined gust in music.
That meaning of gust is rare outside older prose.
Similar words
relish
gusto
enjoyment
taste
liking
appetite
Etymology
The common wind sense dates from the late 1500s and is probably from Old Norse gustr, related to words for gushing or pouring. An older, mostly obsolete taste sense comes through Latin gustus and survives more clearly in gusto.
FAQ
What does gust mean in weather?
A gust is a short, strong rush of wind.
Can gust be a verb?
Yes. Wind can gust, meaning it blows in sudden strong bursts.
Is a gust the same as a breeze?
No. A breeze is usually light or steady, while a gust is sudden and stronger.
Can gust be used figuratively?
Yes. A gust of laughter, anger, smoke, or applause is a sudden outburst.
What is the past tense of gust?
The regular past tense is gusted.
What is the difference between a gust and a gale?
A gust is brief, while a gale is a strong wind that lasts longer.
What does old-fashioned gust mean?
In older writing, gust can mean relish, enjoyment, or taste.
Where does gust come from?
The wind sense probably comes from Old Norse gustr, while the older taste sense comes through Latin gustus.
Comments & contributions
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Peppy Horse
Aug 8
as a spanish speaker I always want to read this as gusto lol. weather gust is ráfaga or racha, dont trust the look of it
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Indigo Donkey
Aug 10
sí, en pronóstico dicen rachas fuertes todo el tiempo
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Hidden Quail
Aug 5
article nitpick: usually a gust of wind, not a gust of the wind. same as a drop of rain or a bolt of lightning
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Wild Cricket
Aug 1
Pilots read it in METARs as the G number: 22015G25KT is wind from 220 at 15 knots, gusting 25. I see learners sometimes read the G part like a second steady wind speed, but it is the peak.
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Olive Camel
Jul 25
weather people use gust pretty technically. A forecast saying 20 mph, gusts 35 does not mean the wind is 35 all the time, it means the peaks may hit that. In US obs it is tied to at least a 10 knot swing between lull and peak.