A wind that blows directly toward you or toward a moving vehicle, making movement slower and harder.
From 'head' (facing direction) and 'wind' (moving air). Emerged in the 1800s in nautical language when sailors needed precise terminology for wind directions relative to their course.
Cyclists and runners obsess over headwinds because they can slow you down by 10-20% without any extra effort on your part—it's why racers often strategically rotate positions to share the burden!
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