Sudden, brief bursts of wind; plural of gust.
From Old Norse 'gustr,' related to Swedish 'gust' and Norwegian 'gust.' The word entered Middle English around the 1300s through Scandinavian contact and has remained the standard term for sudden wind movements, possibly because the word's harsh consonants mimic the sound of rushing wind.
The word 'gust' probably made it into English through Norse traders and Vikings precisely because Scandinavian languages had a perfect word for something Scandinavians experience constantly—fierce sudden winds on the coasts—showing how language borrows what it needs from neighbors who know it best.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.