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.
Derivatives:
vaned adj. vaneless adj.
Etymology: ME, southern & western var. of obs. fane f. OE fana banner f. Gmc