I. ˈsau̇, ˈsəf verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English swoghen, swoughen, from Old English swōgan to sound, rustle, moan; akin to Old Saxon swōgan to rustle, Old Norse sœgr tumult, noise, Gothic ga swogjan to groan, Lithuanian svagėti to sound and perhaps to Greek ēchē, ēchos sound — more at echo
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to make a moaning or sighing sound
wind soughing in the branches
b. : to breathe or sigh noisily
soughing in her sleep
c. Scotland : to breathe one's last : die — used with away
2. Scotland : to preach or pray in a whining tone
transitive verb
1. Scotland : to hum or whistle (a tune) softly
2. Scotland : to utter or deliver (as a sermon) in a monotonous chanting tone
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English swogh, swough, from swoghen, swoughen to sough
1.
a. : a moaning, murmuring, or sighing sound (as of the wind)
b. : a deep or noisy sigh
2. Scotland : a flying report : rumor
3. Scotland : the whiz of a missile or the hiss of a swung sword or club
4. Scotland : a singsong manner of speaking especially in preaching or praying
•
- a calm sough
III. ˈsəf, ˈsau̇ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English sough, swoughe, sogh
1. Britain : a wet place
2. Britain : drain ; specifically : an adit for draining a mine
IV. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Britain : to ditch for drainage : drain