VANE -
n. 1 (in full weather-
vane) a revolving pointer mounted on a
church spire or other high place to show the direction of the wind (cf. WEATHERCOCK).
2 a blade of a
screw propeller or a windmill etc.
3 the sight of surveying instruments, a quadrant, etc.
4 the flat
part of a bird's feather formed by the barbs.
vaned adj. vaneless adj. [ME, southern & western var. of obs. fane f. OE fana banner f. Gmc]
