2. [OF. vanne, F. vanneau beam feather (cf. It. vanno a wing) fr. L.
vannus. See Etymology above.] A wing with which the air is beaten.
[Archaic] "[/Angels] on the air plumy vans received him. " Milton.
He wheeled in air, and stretched his vans in vain; His vans no longer
could his flight sustain.
Dryden.
Van, v. t. [Cf. F. vanner to winnow, to fan. See Van a winnowing
machine.] To fan, or to cleanse by fanning; to winnow. [Obs.] Bacon.
Van"a*date (?), n. [Cf. F. vanadate.] (Chem.) A salt of vanadic acid.
[Formerly also vanadiate.]
Va*nad"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, vanadium;
containing vanadium; specifically distinguished those compounds in
which vanadium has a relatively higher valence as contrasted with the
vanadious compounds; as, vanadic oxide.
Vanadic acid (Chem.), an acid analogous to phosphoric acid, not known
in the free state but forming a well-known series of salts.
Va*nad"i*nite (?), n. (Min.) A mineral occurring in yellowish, and
ruby-red hexagonal crystals. It consist of lead vanadate with a small
proportion of lead chloride.
Va*na"di*ous (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or containing, vanadium;
specifically, designating those compounds in which vanadium has a lower
valence as contrasted with the vanadic compounds; as, vanadious acid.
[Sometimes written also vanadous.]
Van"a*dite (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of vanadious acid, analogous to a
nitrite or a phosphite.
Va*na"di*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Icel. Vanads, a surname of the
Scandinavian goddess Freya.] (Chem.) A rare element of the
nitrogen-phosphorus group, found combined, in vanadates, in certain
minerals, and reduced as an infusible, grayish-white metallic powder.
It is intermediate between the metals and the non-metals, having both
basic and acid properties. Symbol V (or Vd, rarely). Atomic weight
51.2.
Van"a*dous (?), a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to vanadium; obtained from
vanadium; — said of an acid containing one equivalent of vanadium and
two of oxygen.
Van"a*dyl (?), n. [Vanadium + - yl.] (Chem.) The hypothetical radical
VO, regarded as a characterized residue of certain vanadium compounds.
Van"-cou`ri*er (?), n. [F. avant- courrier. See Avant, Van of an army,
and Courier, and cf. Avant-courier, Vaunt-courier.] One sent in
advance; an avant-courier; a precursor.
Van"dal (?), n. [L. Vandalus, Vandalius; of Teutonic origin, and
probably originally signifying, a wanderer. Cf. Wander.]
1. (Anc. Hist.) One of a Teutonic race, formerly dwelling on the south
shore of the Baltic, the most barbarous and fierce of the northern
nations that plundered Rome in the 5th century, notorious for
destroying the monuments of art and literature.
2. Hence, one who willfully destroys or defaces any work of art or
literature.
The Vandals of our isle, Sworn foes to sense and law.
Cowper.
{ Van"dal (?), Van*dal"ic (?), } a. Of or pertaining to the Vandals;
resembling the Vandals in barbarism and destructiveness.
Van"dal*ism (?), n. The spirit or conduct of the Vandals; ferocious
cruelty; hostility to the arts and literature, or willful destruction
or defacement of their monuments.
Van*dyke" (vn*dk"), a. Of or pertaining to the style of Vandyke the
painter; used or represented by Vandyke. "His Vandyke dress." Macaulay.
[Written also Vandyck.]
Vandyke brown (Paint.), a pigment of a deep semitransparent brown
color, supposed to be the color used by Vandyke in his pictures. —
Vandyke collar or cape, a broad collar or cape of linen and lace with a
deep pointed or scalloped edge, worn lying on the shoulders; — so
called from its appearance in pictures by Vandyke. — Vandyke edge, an
edge having ornamental triangular points.
Van*dyke", n. A picture by Vandyke. Also, a Vandyke collar, or a
Vandyke edge. [Written also Vandyck.]
Van*dyke", v. t. fit or furnish with a Vandyke; to form with points or
scallops like a Vandyke. [R.] [Written also Vandyck.]
Vane (?), n. [OE. & E. Prov. E. fane weathercock, banner, AS. fana a
banner, flag; akin to D. vaan, G. fahne, OHG. fano cloth, gund fano
flag, Icel. fni, Sw. fana, Dan. fane, Goth. fana cloth, L. pannus, and
perhaps to Gr.&?; a web, &?; a bobbin, spool. Cf. Fanon, Pane a
compartment, panel.]
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1. A contrivance attached to some elevated object for the purpose of
showing which way the wind blows; a weathercock. It is usually a plate
or strip of metal, or slip of wood, often cut into some fanciful form,
and placed upon a perpendicular axis around which it moves freely.
Aye undiscreet, and changing as a vane.
Chaucer.
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.