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(), n.[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. fni, Sw. fana, Dan. fane, Goth. fana cloth, L. pannus, and perhaps to Gr. a web, 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. (Zol.) The rhachis and web of a feather taken together. 4. One of the sights of a compass, quadrant, etc. Vane of a leveling staf スポンサード リンク
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