I. ˈvan, ˈvaa(ə)n noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin vannus — more at winnow
1. dialect England : a fan or other winnowing device
2.
a. : the wing of a bird or insect
the bird … leant on the wind and then swung into it on taut vans — Alan Duncan
b. : a windmill's sail
3.
a. : a shovel used in dressing ore
b. dialect England : the process of testing ore on such a shovel
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: short for vanguard
1. : the leading unit or division of an advancing army, fleet, or other group
battling its way … through the high steep seas of a levanter with the red-crossed admiral's flag in the van — C.S.Forester
2. : the group taking the lead or occupying the front position in a moving company : the first part of a procession : head
the paper would be in the van of progressive thought — John Buchan
led the van in solving problems — G.C.Sellery
stocks … which have been in the van of the market — Wall Street Journal
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: short for caravan
1. : a wagon or motortruck usually enclosed and used for transportation of goods or animals
route van
horse van
great vans carrying enormous piled-up loads advanced swaying like mountains — Joseph Conrad
2. chiefly Britain : an enclosed railroad freight or baggage car
the train, consisting of three carriages and a van — G.B.Shaw
3. : a small general store in a lumber camp and sometimes on wheels at which clothing, tobacco, and other small articles for the crew are kept for sale
IV. transitive verb
( vanned ; vanned ; vanning ; vans )
: to carry or forward in a van
it would be possible to van the horses each day from one track to the other — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union
V. noun
( -s )
Etymology: by shortening
Britain : advantage 5
VI. noun
1. : a multipurpose enclosed boxlike motor vehicle having rear or side doors and side panels often with windows
2. : a detachable passenger cabin transportable by aircraft or truck