Wind-Shock, a name given by our farmers to a distemper to which fruit-trees, and sometimes timber-trees, are subject. It is a sort of bruise and shiver throughout the whole substance of the tree; but the bark being often not affected by it, it is not seen on the outside, while the inside is twisted round, and greatly injured. It is by some supposed to be occasioned by high winds; but others attribute it to lightning. Those trees are most usually affected by it whole boughs grow more out on one side than on the other. The best way of preventing this in valuable trees, is to take care in the plantation that they are sheltered well, and to cut them frequently in a regular manner while young. Wind-Taught, in sea-language, denotes the same as stiff in the wind. Too much rigging, high masts, or any thing catching or holding wind aloft, is said to hold a ship wind-taught; by which they mean, that she floops too much in her sailing in a stiff gale of wind. Again, when a ship rides in a main stress of wind and weather, they strike down her top masts, and bring her yards down, which else would hold too much wind, or be too much distended and wind-taught. Wind-Sails, a sort of wide tube or funnel of canvas, employed to convey a stream of fresh air downward into the lower apartments of a ship. This machine is usually extended by large hoops situated in different parts of its height. It is let down perpendicularly through the hatches, being expanded at the lower end like the base of a cone; and having its upper side open on the side which is placed to windward, so as to receive the full current of wind; which entering the cavity, fills the tube, and rushes downwards into the lower regions of the ship. There are generally three or four of these in our capital ships of war, which, together with the ventilators, contribute greatly to preserve the health of the crew. WINDAGE of a Gun, is the difference between the diameter of the bore and the diameter of the ball.