sough

Etymology 1

From Middle English *sough, swough, swogh, from Middle English swoȝen, swowen, from Old English swōgan (“to make a sound; move with noise; rush; roar”), from Proto-West Germanic *swōgan, from Proto-Germanic *swōganą from Proto-Indo-European *(s)weh₂gʰ-, same source as Latin vāgiō and likely English echo (via Ancient Greek). Cognate with Scots souch (“sough”), Icelandic súgur (“a rushing sound, rustle”). Noun replaced Middle English swei, sweȝ from Old English swēg. More at swoon.

verb

1. To make a soft rustling or murmuring sound.
   I lay awake for a while that evening, listening to the soughing of the wind high in the pines, realizing sadly that we must now return to civilization. 1963, Sterling North, Rascal, Avon Books, page 101

noun

1. A murmuring sound; rushing, rustling, or whistling sound.
   … Arthur; a fearful night it was: there was a sough in the air, a sound drawing nigh like that of a host marching:- — but you're looking pale and forwrought, man; is any thing ailing ye? 1829, John Carne, Stratton Hill: A Tale of the Civil Wars, volume 1, page 131
   The whispering leaves or solemn sough of the forest. 1838, William Howitt, The Rural Life of England
   Syenite hears the distant sough of waves rolling against rocks, somewhere below the slope on which they lie. 2015, N. K. Jemisin, chapter 16, in The Fifth Season
2. A gentle breeze; a waft; a breath.
3. A (deep) sigh.
4. (Scotland, obsolete) A vague rumour.
5. (Scotland, obsolete) A cant or whining mode of speaking, especially in preaching or praying.

Etymology 2

From Middle English sough (whence also Scots sheuch (“ditch”)), from Old English *sōh, ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *sīk (“watercourse”); compare dialectal Dutch zoeg (“ditch”), and English sitch.

noun

1. A small drain; an adit.

verb

1. To drain.