2. Any flat, extended surface attached to an axis and moved by the wind; as, the vane of a windmill; hence, a similar fixture of any form moved in or by water, air, or other fluid; as, the vane of a screw propeller, a fan blower, an anemometer, etc.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The rhachis and web of a feather taken together.
4. One of the sights of a compass, quadrant, etc. Vane of a leveling staff. (Surv.) Same as Target, 3.
VANESSA
Van*es"sa, n. Etym: [Probably from Swift's poem of Cadenus and
Vanessa. See Vanessa, in the Dictionary of Noted Names in Fiction.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of handsomely colored butterflies belonging to Vanessa and allied genera. Many of these species have the edges of the wings irregularly scalloped.
VANESSIAN
Van*es"si*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A vanessa.
VANFESS
Van"fess`, n. Etym: [F. avant-fossé; avant before + fossé ditch. Cf.
Fosse.] (Fort.)
Defn: A ditch on the outside of the counterscarp, usually full of water.