A thin, flat piece that moves or spins in the wind or fluid, used to measure wind direction or control movement.
From Old English 'fane' meaning 'flag' or 'banner,' related to weather vanes. The 'v' spelling became standard by the 1500s.
Weather vanes have been around for thousands of years—ancient Greeks put them on temples—and they work because the larger tail section catches wind and automatically points the head into the wind, so you always know which direction the wind is blowing without any electricity or mechanics.
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