'windiness' originates from the adjective 'windy' plus the suffix '-ness' (from Old English '-nes(s)e'), where 'wind' referred to moving air.

'windiness' developed from Middle English forms related to 'windy' (e.g. 'windinesse') which in turn came from Old English 'windig' (from 'wind'). Over time the adjective plus '-ness' produced the modern noun 'windiness'.

Initially it referred mainly to the meteorological condition 'characterized by wind', but it later also acquired a figurative sense of 'being full of words' or 'long-winded'.