Plain English Meaning

During a crosswind takeoff, the wind tries to swing the nose into the wind. Pushing the rudder pedal on the side away from the wind keeps the airplane rolling straight down the runway.

Full Definition

Pressure applied to the rudder pedal on the downwind side of the airplane during a crosswind takeoff roll to counter the airplane's tendency to weathervane into the wind and to keep the takeoff path aligned with the runway centerline.

Context Anchor

Used during the takeoff roll when a crosswind is trying to make the airplane point into the wind instead of straight down the runway.

Derivation

Downwind' simply means the side away from where the wind is coming from. So 'downwind rudder pressure' is on the pedal opposite the wind. Naming it by side helps react instinctively in the rather than thinking it through.