Definition

Noun: A wind sleeve is a conical fabric tube, open at both ends, that is attached to a pole or mast. It is designed to catch the wind and indicate both the wind's direction and, by its degree of inflation, provide a general sense of the wind's speed.

Usage

A wind sleeve is primarily used as a visual wind indicator at locations like small airfields, helipads, marinas, or on highways. It helps pilots, drivers, or boaters quickly assess wind conditions. - The pilot checked the wind sleeve before attempting to land. - A tattered wind sleeve fluttered wildly in the strong gale.

Advanced Usage

• Technical Context: In aviation, a wind sleeve is a type of "wind cone" or "wind sock." Its alignment shows wind direction, while a fully extended sleeve indicates higher wind speeds.
  • The wind sleeve was fully extended, signaling wind speeds exceeding 15 knots.

Variants and Related Words

• Windsock (n): The most common synonym for a wind sleeve.
  • The airport's windsock was clearly visible from the runway.
• Wind cone (n): Another technical term for the same device.
  • The wind cone at the heliport is illuminated at night.

Synonyms

• Air sock
• Wind sock

Related Phrases

• To fly straight as a windsock: An idiom implying something is directly aligned with or pointing in the direction of a prevailing force or trend.
  • His opinions fly straight as a windsock, always pointing in the direction of the latest media narrative.

Noun

1. a truncated cloth cone mounted on a mast; used (e.g., at airports) to show the direction of the wind