Learn English – the etymology of “close” as a description of the weather, or temperature

etymology

OED sense 6 of the adjective close, relates to the weather. and is the opposite of fresh.

Why do we describe warm and slightly oppressively humid weather as "close"? It has been the case since the sixteenth century.

  1. Of the atmosphere or weather: Like that of a closed up room; confined, stifling, without free circulation; the opposite of fresh.

[1533 J. Heywood Play of Wether sig. Diiii Wynde rayne nor froste
nor sonshyne wold she haue But fayre close wether her beautye to
saue.]

1591 R. Percyvall Bibliotheca Hispanica Dict. at Bochorno A close
hot weather.

1599 T. Moffett Silkewormes 48 Keepe them not in roomes too hot
and close.

1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. vii. 213
We had now for several days together close and sultry weather.

1834 F. Marryat Jacob Faithful I. i. 5 The little cabin being so
unpleasantly close.

1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect i. ii. 165 The opposite of
freshness is shown in the close or suffocating odours.

Best Answer

According to the Word Detective the usage of close appears to be just literal, referring to the meaning of a space where there is no circulation of fresh air.

By about 1500, “close” began to develop its now-common sense of “in proximity in space, time, etc.” In this sense of “close” it is the spaces between things that are “closed up,” reduced to a minimum, making the things as near to each other as possible

The use of “close” as an adjective to describe hot, stifling weather (or the hot stale atmosphere in a house or room) comes from the sense of a house or room completely “closed up,” with no circulation of fresh air. This use dates back to the 16th century (“We had now for several days together close and sultry weather.” 1748).

Related Topic