Traditionally derived from Proto-Italic *watnos, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂weh₁- (“to blow”); compare the diminutive vatillum, as well as Latin ventus, Ancient Greek ἄημι (áēmi), Middle High German winden (“to winnow”), Icelandic vinsa (“to pick out, weed”), English winnow. However, De Vaan is skeptical of the semantics, and leaves the origin open.