second wind
Preserved but no longer current.
Soon after the start in running, unless the runner is very fit he gets out of breath; but, as the body becomes heated, breathing becomes more easy, and ^endures till fatigue produces exhaustion; this is called the second wind.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “second wind” mean?
Soon after the start in running, unless the runner is very fit he gets out of breath; but, as the body becomes heated, breathing becomes more easy, and ^endures till fatigue produces exhaustion; this is called the second wind.
Is “second wind” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.