'wind-oriented' originates from English as a compound of 'wind' and 'oriented'. 'wind' comes from Old English 'wind' (from Proto-Germanic '*windaz') where the root meant 'moving air'; 'oriented' derives from Latin 'orientare' via Old French 'orienter', where the root 'oriri' meant 'to rise' (originally referring to the east) and later developed the sense 'to direct or align'.

'wind' remained largely unchanged from Old English 'wind' into modern English; 'orient' entered English through Old French 'orienter' and Latin 'orientare'. The compound 'wind-oriented' is a modern English formation combining these elements to mean 'directed toward the wind'.

Initially, 'orient' related specifically to the east/rising of the sun; over time it broadened to mean 'to align or direct toward' in general. Consequently, 'wind-oriented' came to mean 'aligned toward or designed for the wind' rather than anything to do with the east.