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The front of an army; the first line or leading column; also, the front line or foremost division of a fleet, either in sailing or in battle. "Standards and gonfalons, twixt van and rear, Stream in the air." (Milton)
Origin: Abbrev. Fr. Vanguard.
1. A fan or other contrivance, as a sieve, for winnowing grain.
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. "[/Angels] on the air plumy vans received him. " "He wheeled in air, and stretched his vans in vain; His vans no longer could his flight sustain." (Dryden)
Origin: L. Vannus a van, or fan for winnowing grain: cf. F. Van. Cf. Fan, Van a wing Winnow.
<chemical>
A shovel used in cleansing ore.
Origin: Cornish.
<chemical>
To wash or cleanse, as a small portion of ore, on a shovel.
(01 Mar 1998)
vampire, vampire tap, vampirism, VAN < Prev | Next > vanadate, vanadates, vanadic
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