gust

Etymology 1

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.

noun

1. A strong, abrupt rush of wind.
2. (by extension) Any rush or outburst (of water, emotion, etc.).
   they are merely driven about by every sudden gust and impulse of the mind 1609 (revised 1625), Francis Bacon, De Sapientia Veterum ('Wisdom of the Ancients')

verb

1. (intransitive, transitive) To blow in gusts.
   Do the dryers disperse bacteria and viruses through the restroom, like autumn breezes gusting leaves across a lawn? April 25 2019, Samanth Subramanian, “Hand dryers v paper towels: the surprisingly dirty fight for the right to dry your hands”, in The Guardian

Etymology 2

From Middle English gust, guste, from Latin gustus (“taste”) and Old French gust, goust.

noun

1. (archaic) The physiological faculty of taste.
2. Relish, enjoyment, appreciation.
   , "The Spirit of Grace" An ox will relish the tender flesh of kids with as much gust and appetite.
   1942: ‘Yes, indeed,’ said Sava with solemn gust. — Rebecca West, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon (Canongate 2006, p. 1050)
3. Intellectual taste; fancy.

Etymology 3

From Middle English gusten (“to taste, have a taste for”), from the noun (see above)).

verb

1. (obsolete, transitive) To taste.
2. (obsolete, transitive) To have a relish for.