Vane
/veɪn/noun
A flat piece that turns to show wind direction, or a similar guiding fin or blade.
Did you know?In Old English, a vane was literally a flag or banner, and the weather vane kept that old ‘fluttering cloth’ idea long after the meaning shifted to wind direction.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pet-
“to fly, fall, or rush”
Old English
OE
fana
“a flag, banner, or piece of cloth that flutters”
Middle English
ME
vane
“a flag or streamer”
15th Century
English
vane
“a weathercock or weather vane that turns with the wind”
Modern English
English
vane
“a flat blade or fin, especially one that indicates direction or flow”