See Also: vane(medicine)
vane(dictionary)
vane(dictionary)
Vane - Sailing(gambling)
Vane, Sir Henry(encyclopedia)
Vane (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
weather vane(dictionary)
King, William Rufus de Vane(encyclopedia)

vane (iou)



vane noun. LME.
[Dial. var. of FANE noun1. Cf. VAN noun1.]
A revolving plate or flat pointer of metal, usu. ornamental, fixed on a church spire or other high place to show the direction of the wind; a weathercock. Also weather-vane. LME.
b. Nautical. A piece of bunting or metal sheeting fixed to a masthead on a ship to show the direction of the wind. E18.
A metal plate in the form of a flag or banner bearing a coat of arms. Only in 16.
a. A sail of a windmill or wind-pump. Also, each of the flaps forming one of these. L16.
Scots Magazine Regulate the sail speed by opening the vanes should the wind gust suddenly.
b. The flat part on either side of the shaft of a feather. E18.
c. gen. A broad projection attached to an axis or wheel so as to act on or be acted on by a current of air or liquid, as a blade of a propeller, turbine, etc. Also, a broad flat projecting surface designed to guide the motion of a projectile, as a feather on an arrow, a fin on a torpedo, etc. E19.
T. Pynchon They..switched over to vanes made of graphite, brought the yaw oscillation down to five degrees or so.
d. A revolving fan or flywheel. rare. E19.
The sight in a quadrant or other surveying instrument. L16.
vaned adjective having a vane or vanes, esp. of a specified type L19.