Fan tracery

Fan tracery
Fan Fan (f[a^]n), n. [AS. fann, fr. L. vannus fan, van for winnowing grain; cf. F. van. Cf. {Van} a winnowing machine, {Winnow}.] 1. An instrument used for producing artificial currents of air, by the wafting or revolving motion of a broad surface; as: (a) An instrument for cooling the person, made of feathers, paper, silk, etc., and often mounted on sticks all turning about the same pivot, so as when opened to radiate from the center and assume the figure of a section of a circle. (b) (Mach.) Any revolving vane or vanes used for producing currents of air, in winnowing grain, blowing a fire, ventilation, etc., or for checking rapid motion by the resistance of the air; a fan blower; a fan wheel. (c) An instrument for winnowing grain, by moving which the grain is tossed and agitated, and the chaff is separated and blown away. (d) Something in the form of a fan when spread, as a peacock's tail, a window, etc. (e) A small vane or sail, used to keep the large sails of a smock windmill always in the direction of the wind. [1913 Webster]

Clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. --Is. xxx. 24. [1913 Webster]

2. That which produces effects analogous to those of a fan, as in exciting a flame, etc.; that which inflames, heightens, or strengthens; as, it served as a fan to the flame of his passion. [1913 Webster]

3. A quintain; -- from its form. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

{Fan blower}, a wheel with vanes fixed on a rotating shaft inclosed in a case or chamber, to create a blast of air (fan blast) for forge purposes, or a current for draft and ventilation; a fanner.

{Fan cricket} (Zo["o]l.), a mole cricket.

{Fan light} (Arch.), a window over a door; -- so called from the semicircular form and radiating sash bars of those windows which are set in the circular heads of arched doorways.

{Fan shell} (Zo["o]l.), any shell of the family {Pectinid[ae]}. See {Scallop}, n., 1.

{Fan tracery} (Arch.), the decorative tracery on the surface of fan vaulting.

{Fan vaulting} (Arch.), an elaborate system of vaulting, in which the ribs diverge somewhat like the rays of a fan, as in Henry VII.'s chapel in Westminster Abbey. It is peculiar to English Gothic.

{Fan wheel}, the wheel of a fan blower.

{Fan window}. Same as {Fan light} (above).

{electric fan}. a fan having revolving blades for propelling air, powered by an electric motor. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • fan tracery — n. the decoration on fan vaulting * * * …   Universalium

  • fan tracery — n. the decoration on fan vaulting …   English World dictionary

  • fan tracery — noun the carved tracery on fan vaulting • Hypernyms: ↑tracery • Part Holonyms: ↑fan vaulting * * * noun : decorative tracery on fan vaulting * * * fan tracery or fan vaulting noun (architecture) Tr …   Useful english dictionary

  • fan tracery — /fæn ˈtreɪsəri/ (say fan traysuhree) noun tracery which rises from a capital or a corbel and diverges like the folds of a fan, spreading over the surface of a vault …  

  • Tracery — Tra cer/y, n.; pl. {Traceries} (Arch.) 1. Ornamental work with rambled lines. Especially: (a) The decorative head of a Gothic window. [1913 Webster] Note: Window tracery is of two sorts, plate tracery and bar tracery. Plate tracery, common in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fan — (f[a^]n), n. [AS. fann, fr. L. vannus fan, van for winnowing grain; cf. F. van. Cf. {Van} a winnowing machine, {Winnow}.] 1. An instrument used for producing artificial currents of air, by the wafting or revolving motion of a broad surface; as:… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fan blower — Fan Fan (f[a^]n), n. [AS. fann, fr. L. vannus fan, van for winnowing grain; cf. F. van. Cf. {Van} a winnowing machine, {Winnow}.] 1. An instrument used for producing artificial currents of air, by the wafting or revolving motion of a broad… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fan cricket — Fan Fan (f[a^]n), n. [AS. fann, fr. L. vannus fan, van for winnowing grain; cf. F. van. Cf. {Van} a winnowing machine, {Winnow}.] 1. An instrument used for producing artificial currents of air, by the wafting or revolving motion of a broad… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fan light — Fan Fan (f[a^]n), n. [AS. fann, fr. L. vannus fan, van for winnowing grain; cf. F. van. Cf. {Van} a winnowing machine, {Winnow}.] 1. An instrument used for producing artificial currents of air, by the wafting or revolving motion of a broad… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fan shell — Fan Fan (f[a^]n), n. [AS. fann, fr. L. vannus fan, van for winnowing grain; cf. F. van. Cf. {Van} a winnowing machine, {Winnow}.] 1. An instrument used for producing artificial currents of air, by the wafting or revolving motion of a broad… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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