vane, web
(noun) the flattened weblike part of a feather consisting of a series of barbs on either side of the shaft
blade, vane
(noun) flat surface that rotates and pushes against air or water
vane
(noun) a fin attached to the tail of an arrow, bomb or missile in order to stabilize or guide it
weathervane, weather vane, vane, wind vane
(noun) mechanical device attached to an elevated structure; rotates freely to show the direction of the wind
Source: WordNet® 3.1
vane (plural vanes)
(countable) a weather vane
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
(ornithology) the flattened, web-like part of a feather, consisting of a series of barbs on either side of the shaft
a sight on a sextant or compass
one of the metal guidance or stabilizing fins attached to the tail of a bomb or other missile
• Evan, Nave, Neva, Vena, aven, nave, neva
Source: Wiktionary
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.)
Definition: 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
23 November 2024
(adjective) concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations; “theoretical science”
The Boston Tea Party helped popularize coffee in America. The hefty tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773 resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. In the lead up to the Revolutionary War, it became patriotic to sip java instead of tea. The Civil War made the drink more pervasive. Coffee helped energize tired troops, and drinking it became an expression of freedom.
