Green’s Dictionary of Slang

windy adj.²

(usu. UK juv.) cowardly, scared.

1873		J. O’Connor Wanderings of a Vagabond 359: ‘By G-d! that’s the seventh straight bet I’ve lost,’ he cried, looking around for sympathy. ‘Yer too windy, Grummy,’ said an elderly gentleman seated near him.
1918		R.N. Gray letter in Phillips, Boyack & Malone Great Adventure (1988) 1 Jan. 110: I am still a bit shaky, and if I had to return to the line immediately would be a bit windy I’m afraid. [Ibid.] 12 Mar. 4/2: The cookhouse, which the windy Babbler had well dug in out of reach of Fritz’s hate-stuff.
1926		‘Sapper’ Final Count 933: There was every excuse, if you like, for being windy when we were in London.
1938		J. Curtis They Drive by Night 233: Windy bastard, he didn’t half look scared.
1941		A. Gurney Bluey & Curley 30 Aug. [synd. cartoon strip] Don’t get windy Jacky. Just say to yourself I’m going to beat him.
1948		C. Day Lewis Otterbury Incident 39: Toppy’s lot all started to jeer at us for being windy.
1953		I. Hamilton Till Human Voices Wake Us 24: Some of them [i.e. prison officers] took the job to get out of the war. Windy was the word.
1959		W. Hall Long and the Short and the Tall Act I: What’s the matter, Whitto? Getting windy?
1963		C. Wood ‘Spare’ in Cockade (1965) I i: spratt: What’s up son? harry: I’m not sure. spratt: Bit windy son?
1967		K. Tennant Tell Morning This 20: ‘Too right, I’m windy. But I’m not mad’.
1972		P. Fordham Inside the Und. 38: The security man was co-operating though windy.
1983		S. Gee Never in My Lifetime in Best Radio Plays (1984) 71: tom: She came at me. Right at me. charlie: So don’t get windy .
1998		J. O’Connor Salesman 243: Yer windy, Homer. Know what that means where I’m from? Means yer fuckin’ yellow. You’re scared.

In derivatives

windiness (n.)

terror, cowardice.

1917		B. Adams Nothing of Importance 59: I have never experienced since such an abject windiness.
1953		I. Hamilton Till Human Voices Wake Us 27: I can’t get steamed up about obvious windiness.