Long-winded means talking or writing on and on in a rambling, tiresome way. A long-winded explanation.
It wears the listener out, which is the part the word is really complaining about. Long-winded originally meant having good breath, so the sense has turned completely around.
1adjectivelong-windedTalking or writing on and on in a rambling, tiresome way that wears out the listener.
“The long-winded answer never reached the question.”
long-winded is a quality.
Long plus winded, from wind meaning breath; it first meant able to keep going without tiring.
From long + winded.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA