This is the 627th most frequent Russian word.
дал
"Дал" - "gave" (past tense of "дать" - to give).
The word 'дал' is the past tense masculine form of the verb 'дать' ('to give'), indicating that he handed something over to me.
Он дал мне книгу.
He gave me a book.
Here, 'дал' demonstrates the action of granting or agreeing, related to giving approval or consent.
Вчера он дал согласие на участие.
Yesterday he gave his consent to participate.
In this case, 'дал' is used in a more metaphorical sense, implying that the wind enabled or gifted the possibility for action.