Wind that blows across a direction of travel rather than with or against it, creating sideways force on vehicles or aircraft.
From 'cross' (Old English 'cros') and 'wind' (from Old English 'wind'). Used in aviation since the early 20th century as aircraft performance became dependent on wind conditions.
Pilots fear crosswind landings because an aircraft sliding sideways onto a runway can tip catastrophically—but expert pilots practice 'crabbing' into a crosswind, pointing the nose partly sideways so the plane's actual track stays aligned with the runway, making it one of the most elegant adjustments in aviation.
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