a <windy><draughty> old cottage

[Shandol]

The following example has been chosen from" English Collocation In Use" book.

My brother and his wife live in a windy old cottage.

According to the book, the sentence is wrong and the student should correct the collocation error "windy old cottage" and instead of that write "draughty old cottage". I don't know why "windy" doesn't work here. What do you think about it?
Thanks!

 

[Uncle Jack]

Wind is something that goes on outside. Even the worst cottage will keep out most of the wind, but it might not keep out the draught ("a current of air, esp one intruding into an enclosed space", from draught - WordReference.com Dictionary of English, Collins (British) English Dictionary, at the bottom of the page)

 

[The Newt]

I agree with Uncle Jack that "draughty" makes more sense. It would not be out of the question to use "windy" to refer to a house, as in the quotation below from 1906:

For about Donald, as about his mistress, there was that air of resolution, gloved by courtesy, which had baffled Hurst since his first coming to this windy house upon the moor.

But the implication there is that the house is situated in a windswept location, not that it is draughty inside.

 

[Myridon]

Note that in American English, it's spelled "drafty".
(An American not familiar with British spelling might think "draughty" is a new word pronounced "draw-ty.")

 

[Uncle Jack]

(An American not familiar with British spelling might think "draughty" is a new word pronounced "draw-ty.")

I laugh at that suggestion!

I agree with Uncle Jack that "draughty" makes more sense. It would not be out of the question to use "windy" to refer to a house, as in the quotation below from 1906:

For about Donald, as about his mistress, there was that air of resolution, gloved by courtesy, which had baffled Hurst since his first coming to this windy house upon the moor.

But the implication there is that the house is situated in a windswept location, not that it is draughty inside.

That is how I would read it, too, although I suspect it is draughty inside, for the person to have mentioned the wind.

 

[Shandol]

Thank you everyone for your reply and help.

 

[ain'ttranslationfun?]

I laugh at that suggestion!

But it eye-rhymes with [is a homograph but not a homophone with] "naughty and "haughty"

 

[Packard]

Note that in American English, it's spelled "drafty".
(An American not familiar with British spelling might think "draughty" is a new word pronounced "draw-ty.")

I would not. I would think of a "draught horse" like a Clydesdale and that is pronounced "draft", but spelled "draught". But a lot of people would assume the wrong pronunciation.

 

[Myridon]

I would not. I would think of a "draught horse" like a Clydesdale and that is pronounced "draft", but spelled "draught". But a lot of people would assume the wrong pronunciation.

Ahem...
Draft horse - Wikipedia

A draft horse (US), draught horse (UK, Ireland and Commonwealth) or dray horse

 

[Rover_KE]

You can always check out 'The Draughty Room' by Dora Jarre.