Emily Dickinson Lexicon

winnow (-ed), v. [OE windwian, chaff; see wind, n.] (webplay: pouring, sift).

1. Sift; strain; expose grain to air flow to separate the chaff from the kernel; [fig.] separate out; remove the bad or useless from the good or useful.
2. Fan; filter out; blow away; beat with an instrument; [fig.] analyze; criticize; examine; take apart; pick into pieces.