VANE

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

Etymology

Noun

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

Anagrams

• 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