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Added 9 October 2026

vane

/veɪn/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about vane at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Mechanical device attached to an elevated structure; rotates freely to show the direction of the wind.
A fin attached to the tail of an arrow, bomb or missile in order to stabilize or guide it.
Flat surface that rotates and pushes against air or water.

Origin

From Middle English vane, Southern Middle English variant of fane, from Old English fana (“cloth, banner, flag”), from Proto-West Germanic *fanō, from Proto-Germanic *fanô, from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂n- (“something woven; weave; tissue; fabric; cloth”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Foone (“flag, banner”), Dutch vaan (“banner, flag”), German Low German Fahn (“flag”), German Fahne. Doublet of obsolete fane (“weathercock; banner”) and fanon.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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