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Webster 1913 Edition


Vane

Vane

(vān)
,
Noun.
[OE. & Prov. E.
fane
weathercock, banner, AS.
fana
a banner, flag; akin to D.
vaan
, G.
fahne
, OHG.
fano
cloth, gund
fano
flag, Icel.
fāni
, Sw.
fana
, Dan.
fane
, Goth.
fana
cloth, L.
pannus
, and perhaps to Gr.
πῆνοσ
a web,
πηνίον
a bobbin, spool. Cf.
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.
(Zool.)
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.

Webster 1828 Edition


Vane

VANE

,
Noun.
A plate placed on a spindle, at the top of a spire, for the purpose of showing by its turning and direction, which way the wind blows. In ships, a piece of bunting is used for the same purpose.

Definition 2024


Vane

Vane

See also: vane, vanë, and väne

Spanish

Proper noun

Vane f

  1. A female given name, nickname of Vanessa.

vane

vane

See also: Vane, vanë, and väne

English

Noun

vane (plural vanes)

  1. (countable) A weather vane.
  2. Any of several usually relatively thin, rigid, flat, or sometimes curved surfaces radially mounted along an axis, as a blade in a turbine or a sail on a windmill, that is turned by or used to turn a fluid.
  3. (ornithology) The flattened, web-like part of a feather, consisting of a series of barbs on either side of the shaft.
  4. A sight on a sextant or compass.
  5. One of the metal guidance or stabilizing fins attached to the tail of a bomb or other missile.

Translations

Anagrams


Danish

Etymology

From Old Norse vani.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /vaːnə/, [ˈvæːnə]

Noun

vane c (singular definite vanen, plural indefinite vaner)

  1. habit
  2. practice

Inflection


Esperanto

Adverb

vane

  1. in vain

Related terms


Italian

Adjective

vane f pl

  1. feminine plural of vano

Anagrams


Latin

Adjective

vāne

  1. vocative masculine singular of vānus

References


Norwegian Bokmål

Noun

vane (indefinite singular en vane, definite singular vanen, indefinite plural vaner, definite plural vanene)

  1. habit (an action done on a regular basis)


This Norwegian entry was created from the translations listed at habit. It may be less reliable than other entries, and may be missing parts of speech or additional senses. Please also see vane in the Norwegian Wiktionary. This notice will be removed when the entry is checked. (more information) May 2009