Hypertext Webster Gateway: "winnow"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Winnow
Corn was winnowed, (1.) By being thrown up by a shovel against
the wind. As a rule this was done in the evening or during the
night, when the west wind from the sea was blowing, which was a
moderate breeze and fitted for the purpose. The north wind was
too strong, and the east wind came in gusts. (2.) By the use of
a fan or van, by which the chaff was blown away (Ruth 3:2; Isa.
30:24; Jer. 4:11, 12; Matt. 3:12).
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Winnow \Win"now\, v. i.
To separate chaff from grain.
Winnow not with every wind. --Ecclus. v.
9.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
winnow
n : the act of separating grain from chaff; "the winnowing was
done by women" [syn: {winnowing}, {sifting}]
v 1: separate from chaff; of grain [syn: {fan}]
2: blow on; "The wind was winnowing her hair"
3: separate wheat from chaff; "She stood there winnowing all
day in the field"
4: treat by exposure to a current of air so that waste matter
is eliminated, as of grain
5: remove by a current of air, as of chaff
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