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Webster 1913 Edition

Van

Van

,
Noun.
[Abbrev. fr.
vanguard
.]
The front of an army; the first line or leading column; also, the front line or foremost division of a fleet, either in sailing or in battle.
Standards and gonfalons, twixt
van
and rear,
Stream in the air.
Milton.

Van

,
Noun.
[Cornish.]
(Mining)
A shovel used in cleansing ore.

Van

,
Verb.
T.
(Mining)
To wash or cleanse, as a small portion of ore, on a shovel.
Raymond.

Van

,
Noun.
[Abbreviated from
caravan
.]
1.
A light wagon, either covered or open, used by tradesmen and others for the transportation of goods.
[Eng.]
2.
A large covered wagon for moving furniture, etc., also for conveying wild beasts, etc., for exhibition.
3.
A closed railway car for baggage. See the Note under
Car
, 2.
[Eng.]

Van

,
Noun.
[L.
vannus
a van, or fan for winnowing grain: cf. F.
van
. Cf.
Fan
,
Van
a wing
Winnow
.]
1.
A fan or other contrivance, as a sieve, for winnowing grain.
2.
[OF.
vanne
, F.
vanneau
beam feather (cf. It.
vanno
a wing) fr. L.
vannus
. See Etymology above.]
A wing with which the air is beaten.
[Archaic]
“[/Angels] on their plumy vans received him. ”
Milton.
He wheeled in air, and stretched his
vans
in vain;
His
vans
no longer could his flight sustain.
Dryden.

Van

,
Verb.
T.
[Cf. F.
vanner
to winnow, to fan. See
Van
a winnowing machine.]
To fan, or to cleanse by fanning; to winnow.
[Obs.]
Bacon.

Webster 1828 Edition

Van

VAN

,
Noun.
[Eng. advance, advantage. It is from the root of L. venio, the primary sense of which is to pass.]
1.
The front of an army; or the front line or foremost division of a fleet, either in sailing or in battle.
2.
Among farmers, a fan for winnowing grain. [This in New England is always pronounced fan, which see. But the winnowing machine has nearly superseded the use of it.
3.
In mining, the cleansing of ore or tin stuff by means of a shovel.
4.
A wing with which the air is beaten.
He wheel'd in air, and stretch'd his vans in vain.

VAN

,
Verb.
T.
To fan. [Not in use.] [See Fan.]

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