'atwind' originates from English, formed from the preposition 'at' + the noun 'wind'.

'atwind' appeared in Middle English in forms such as 'at-winde' or 'atwynd' and later survived in some dialectal and nautical usages as 'atwind'.

Initially it literally meant 'at the wind' or 'toward the wind'; this core meaning has largely been retained though the word has become archaic.