Category:Vane

Vane, n. Etym: [oe. & e. Prov. E. fane weathercock, banner, as. fana A banner, flag; akin to d. vaan, g. fahne, ohg. fano cloth, gund fano Flag, icel. fani, sw. fana, dan. fane, goth. fana cloth, l. pannus, And perhaps to gr.Fanon, pane a compartment, panel.]

1. A contrivance attached to some elevated object for the purpose of Showing which way the wind blows; a weathercock. It is usually a Plate or strip of metal, or slip of wood, often cut into some Fanciful form, and placed upon a perpendicular axis around which it Moves freely. Aye undiscreet, and changing as a vane. Chaucer.

2. Any flat, extended surface attached to an axis and moved by the Wind; as, the vane of a windmill; hence, a similar fixture of any Form moved in or by water, air, or other fluid; as, the vane of a Screw propeller, a fan blower, an anemometer, etc.

3. (zoöl.)

Defn: the rhachis and web of a feather taken together.

4. One of the sights of a compass, quadrant, etc. Vane of a leveling Staff. (surv.) Same as target, 3.