Added 9 October 2026
breeze
/bɹiːz/ noun
In Latin: ventulus Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about breeze at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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A slight wind (usually refreshing).
the breeze was cooled by the lake
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Any undertaking that is easy to do.
marketing this product will be no picnic
verb
Origin
From the earlier (nautical) term brise, brize (“breeze”), from Middle English brees (“wind”). Ultimate origin obscure. Variously supposed to derive from a Germanic source like Saterland Frisian Briese (“breeze”), West Frisian brys (“a cool wind”), Dutch bries (“breeze”), early Dutch brysen (“to blow cool and fresh”), or from Spanish brisa (“northeast wind”). The earliest attestations are in Middle English brees (1460), Catalan brisa, and Italian brezza (all in 15th century), with Spanish (1504) and Portuguese briza (16th century) following closely after. The aforementioned Dutch cognates and French brise, however, are attested later than the term in English.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)