Present participle of fan, meaning to cool with a fan or create airflow, or to spread out in a fan-like shape.
From Latin vannus, a winnowing basket used to separate grain from chaff by creating air currents. The word evolved through Old English fann, initially describing the agricultural tool before extending to the action and then to various fan-shaped objects and motions.
The connection between fanning grain and cooling yourself reveals agriculture's influence on everyday language - both actions use moving air to achieve a goal, whether separating wheat from chaff or creating comfort. Modern electric fans are technological descendants of the winnowing basket, showing how ancient tools evolve.
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