baffling wind

Perplexing shifting air

A baffling wind is a wind that shifts direction unpredictably, frustrating sailors trying to maintain course.

The term comes from nautical usage, where such winds could leave a vessel unable to make progress: We spent hours tacking against baffling winds.

By extension, any erratic or confounding force might be called baffling.

Related

cat's paw · howl · hiss · veering · gust · gusty conditions · mystifying · squall · eddy · tacking · crosswind · sailing · lee shore · disorientation · perplexing · unpredictable weather · windswept · turbulence

Opposites
wind consistency and predictability

baffling windtrade wind

Consistent tropical airstream

prevailing wind · fair wind · steady breeze

Family

baffle, baffled, baffles, bafflement, wind, winds, windy, windier, windiest

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G