Meander comes from the Maeander, an ancient river in what is now Turkey. The river was well known for its many bends and turns, so its name became associated with anything that follows a winding course.
At first, the word referred to physical movement or shape. A river, road, or path could meander if it curved and twisted instead of going straight. Later, English extended the word to less literal uses.
- A stream meanders through a valley.
- A trail meanders through the woods.
- A conversation meanders from topic to topic.
- An essay meanders if it moves indirectly and without a clear line.
That shift is common in English. A concrete image, in this case a winding river, becomes a broader metaphor. So when someone says a story meanders, they do not mean it is near water. They mean it wanders instead of moving directly to the point.