headwind

[ hed-wind ]

/ ˈhɛdˌwɪnd /

a wind opposed to the course of a moving object, especially an aircraft or other vehicle (opposed to tailwind).

Origin of headwind

First recorded in 1780–90; (a)head + wind¹

headward, headwards, headwaters, headway, headwear, headwind, headword, headwork, heady, heal, heal-all

But we do not live in that world, and that is a headwind pushing against currents of balance, growth, and repair.

Why Markets Freak Out |Zachary Karabell |August 12, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
Webb—or any Virginia Democrat—would be running into quite a headwind in 2012.

Why the Dems Could Lose the Senate Next |Samuel P. Jacobs |November 16, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
The men at the oars now made hard work of it against the headwind and the running sea.

Frontier Boys on the Coast |Capt. Wyn Roosevelt
We anchored about four leagues to the leeward of Calecut, and we did this because of the headwind.

A Journal of the First Voyage of Vasco da Gama 1497-1499 |Unknown

The run of the galley from the nameless bay near Sidon was without stop or so much as a headwind.

The Prince of India, Volume I |Lew. Wallace
In spite of the headwind, the fire was encroaching forward as well as aft.

Chatterbox, 1906 |Various

headwind

/ (ˈhɛdˌwɪnd) /

a wind blowing directly against the course of an aircraft or ship Compare tailwind

headwind

head wind

(hĕd′wĭnd′)

A wind blowing directly against the course of a moving object, especially an aircraft or ship.