Vane

[ veyn ]
/ veɪn /

noun

Sir HenrySir Harry Vane,1613–62, British statesman and author.

British Dictionary definitions for henry vane (1 of 2)

vane
/ (veɪn) /

noun

Also called: weather vane, wind vane a flat plate or blade of metal mounted on a vertical axis in an exposed position to indicate wind direction
any one of the flat blades or sails forming part of the wheel of a windmill
any flat or shaped plate used to direct fluid flow, esp a stator blade in a turbine, etc
a fin or plate fitted to a projectile or missile to provide stabilization or guidance
ornithol the flat part of a feather, consisting of two rows of barbs on either side of the shaft
surveying
  1. a sight on a quadrant or compass
  2. the movable marker on a levelling staff

Derived forms of vane

vaned, adjective vaneless, adjective

Word Origin for vane

Old English fana; related to Old Saxon, Old High German fano, Old Norse fani, Latin pannus cloth

British Dictionary definitions for henry vane (2 of 2)

Vane
/ (veɪn) /

noun

Sir Henry, known as Sir Harry Vane. 1613–62, English Puritan statesman and colonial administrator; governor of Massachusetts (1636–37). He was executed for high treason after the Restoration

Medical definitions for henry vane

Vane
[ vān ]
John Robert 1927-2004

British pharmacologist. He shared a 1982 Nobel Prize for research on prostaglandins.

Scientific definitions for henry vane

vane
[ vān ]

The flattened, weblike part of a feather, consisting of a series of barbs on either side of the rachis.