Inherited from Middle English fan, inherited from Old English fann (“a winnowing, fan”), derived from Latin vannus (“fan for winnowing grain”), derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₂weh₁- (“to blow”).
Cognates
* Latin ventus (“wind”)
* Dutch wan (“winnowing basket”)
* German Wanne (“winnowing basket”)
* Swedish vanna (“a fan for winnowing”)
* Old English windwian (“to fan, winnow”).
More at winnow.
Meanings
A hand-held device consisting of concertinaed material, or slats of material, gathered together at one end, that may be opened out into the shape of a sector of a circle and waved back and forth in order to move air towards oneself and cool oneself.
How apt is the flutter of the fan to express the different affections of the belle: there is the angry flutter, the modest flutter, the timorous flutter, the confused flutter etc. 1876, August Paul, Addison's Influence on the Social Reform of His Age, T.G. Meissner, page 55:
An electrical or mechanical device for moving air, used for cooling people, machinery, etc.
He didn't switch on the fan because the temperature was 15 degrees Celsius.
The action of fanning; agitation of the air.
"If I cannot be of service, then I certainly don't wish to impose," said McGinty, with a quick fan of breeze that indicated a sweeping bow. 1998, Brock Thoene, Bodie Thoene, A New Frontier: Saga of the Sierras, page 181:
Anything resembling a hand-held fan in shape, e.g., a peacock’s tail.
An instrument for winnowing grain, by moving which the grain is tossed and agitated, and the chaff is separated and blown away.
Whose fanne is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floore, and gather his wheat into the garner: but wil burne vp the chaffe with vnquenchable fire. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 3:12:
The oxen likewise and the yong asses that eare the ground, shall eate cleane prouender which hath bene winnowed with the shouell and with the fanne. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 30:24:
A small vane or sail, used to keep the large sails of a smock mill always in the direction of the wind.
A group of overlapping cards exposed in various patience games.
A section of a tree having a finite number of branches.
Inherited from Middle English fan, inherited from Old English fann (“a winnowing, fan”), derived from Latin vannus (“fan for winnowing grain”), derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₂weh₁- (“to blow”).
Cognates
* Latin ventus (“wind”)
* Dutch wan (“winnowing basket”)
* German Wanne (“winnowing basket”)
* Swedish vanna (“a fan for winnowing”)
* Old English windwian (“to fan, winnow”).
More at winnow.
Meanings
(transitive) To blow air on (something) by means of a fan (hand-held, mechanical or electrical) or otherwise.
We enjoyed standing at the edge of the cliff, being fanned by the wind.
Alice took up the fan and gloves, and, as the hall was very hot, she kept fanning herself all the time she went on talking: […] 1865 November (indicated as 1866), Lewis Carroll [pseudonym; Charles Lutwidge Dodgson], “The Pool of Tears”, in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, London: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, page 19:
(transitive) To slap (a behind, especially).
Part of it was that as much as I respected filial devotion and as much as I liked Sarah Barstow, it would have been a real satisfaction to put her across my knees and pull up her skirts and giver^([sic]) her a swell fanning, for not taking a look at that driver. 1934, Rex Stout, Fer-de-Lance, Bantam, published 1992, →ISBN, page 148:
(intransitive, qualifier:usually to fan out) To move or spread in multiple directions from one point, in the shape of a hand-held fan.
(transitive) To dispel by waving a hand-held fan.
I attempted to fan the disagreeable odour out of the room.
(transitive) To perform a maneuver that involves flicking the top rear of an old-style gun.
To fan a single action revolver, hold down the trigger and strike the hammer repeatedly with a free hand. 2011, Hans-Christoan Vortisch, GURPS Tactical Shooting, page 14:
(figuratively) To invigorate, like flames when fanned.
She comes, to fan my ardour, She kills me with her kisses. 1923, Arthur Symons, Love's Cruelty, page 43:
To winnow grain.
By the first article, these fanning mills were appointed to be sent to the proprietors of the mills of Sault-à-la puce, Petit-Pré, Beauport, Pointe de Lévy, St. Nicolas and Ste. Famille in the isle of Orleans " to have all the wheat in general of whatever quality sent to these mills passed and fanned, before converting them into flour." 1856, François Réal Angers Lelièvre, Lower Canada reports:
(transitive) To apply (the air brake) many times in rapid succession.
Fanning the brakes results in the gradual depletion of the pressure in the cars' brake reservoirs, which can eventually cause a loss of all braking.
(intransitive) To strike out.
(transitive) To strike out (a batter).
(intransitive) To fail to properly shoot or pass the puck.
thumbing (to firing a revolver by holding trigger and hitting hammer)
Translations (86)
fi levitä (move or spread in multiple directions from one point) · pl rozdmuchać (move or spread in multiple directions from one point) · nl uitwaaieren (move or spread in multiple directions from one point) · es abanar (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · hu legyez (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · tl magbentilador (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · de zufächern (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · la ventilo (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · ka დაბერვა (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · fi viuhkoa (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · fi leyhytellä (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · no vifte (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · mi tōwhiriwhiri (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · fi taputtaa (to slap (a behind)) · pt ventilar (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · mi tāwhiri (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · de auffächern (move or spread in multiple directions from one point) · km បក់ (move or spread in multiple directions from one point) · ia flabellar (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · fi tuulettaa (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · ru обдува́ть (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · de schlagen (to slap (a behind)) · de anwehen (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · tr yelpazelemek (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · syl ꠚꠣꠟꠣ (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · fr éventer (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · nl waaieren (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · es ventilar (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · pt abanar (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · pl wachlować (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · el αερίζω (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · ia propagar se (move or spread in multiple directions from one point) · es abanicar (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · da spredes i vifteform (move or spread in multiple directions from one point) · tl magpaypay (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · sv fläkta (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · mi whera (move or spread in multiple directions from one point) · pt flabelar (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · ca ventar (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · sv sprida sig (move or spread in multiple directions from one point) · su ngageberkeun (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · pl dmuchać (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · fr disperser (move or spread in multiple directions from one point) · la flābellō (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · da vifte (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · ia ventilar (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · eo ventumi (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · ta அடி (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · fi leyhytellä (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · mi tōwhiri (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · de ventilieren (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · gl abanar (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · mi tāwhiri (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · pl wentylować (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · ru рассредото́чиваться (move or spread in multiple directions from one point) · bg вея (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · de klopfen (to slap (a behind)) · mi pōwhiriwhiri (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · ta வீசு (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · izh löyhyttää (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · fi hajota (move or spread in multiple directions from one point) · km បក់ (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · bg отвявам (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · de belüften (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · fr éventer (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · de klapsen (to slap (a behind)) · ta அடி (to slap (a behind)) · pt espalhar-se (move or spread in multiple directions from one point) · gl abanicar (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · vi quạt (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · ro vântura (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · mnc ᡶᡠᠰᡥᡝᠮᠪᡳ (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · de verteilen (move or spread in multiple directions from one point) · su ngahihidan (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · de fächeln (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · fi puhaltaa (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · de anfachen (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · hil abaníko (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · id mengipasi (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · ru овева́ть (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · ota یلپازهلمك (to blow air on by means of a hand-held fan) · as বিচ (to blow air on by means of an electric fan) · fi läpsäyttää (to slap (a behind)) · ia irradiar se (move or spread in multiple directions from one point) · de fächern (move or spread in multiple directions from one point) · ckb باوەشێن کردن (to blow air on by means of an electric fan)
fan en · NOUN · etymology 2
Pronunciation
/fan/ (British, Southern, Standard)
/fæn/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation) without æ-raising
Etymology tree
Latin fānāticuslbor.
▲
French fanatiqueinflu.
English fanatic
English fancyinflu.
English fan
Clipping of fanatic, originally in US baseball slang. Possibly influenced by fancy (“group of sport or hobby enthusiasts”), i.e. fancy boy (“fan”).
Meanings
A person who is fond of something or someone, especially an admirer of a performer or aficionado of a sport.
fanchant (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · femfan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fan car (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · Cumberfan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanlisting (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fantard (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · Fannibal (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanwriting (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanless (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanventure (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · litfan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · stfanzine (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanmeeting (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · FIJAGH (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanfilm (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · confan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · stan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · femme fan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fan mail (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · i-fan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanwank (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanne (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · Phan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fans are slans (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · Hamilfan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · nonfan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fankid (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · Twifan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanship (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · Fanson (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fandumb (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fansplain (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fan fiction (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · Anglofan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanwankery (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanwriter (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · pony fan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fan base (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · BNF (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanslator (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanstuff (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fantroll (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · superfan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanservice (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · furfan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanac (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanarchist (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanbrat (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fake fan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · eofan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fancruft (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · Batfan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · megafan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanpage (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanspeak (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fan page (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · neofan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanlore (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanart (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · passifan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · anti-fandom (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · crifanac (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fannish (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · Callafan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · actifan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanon (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fair weather fan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fancast (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanling (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fansigning (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fantrepreneur (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanfest (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fakefan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · Fanilton (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · Trekfan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fantagonism (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanvid (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fancam (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fandemonium (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fandub (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · trufan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · Fanilow (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · faned (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fansite (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fan cast (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanzone (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · stfan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · Transfan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanmade (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fandom (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fankind (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fansub (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanware (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fangal (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fansign (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fan club (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · railfan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanmag (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · HitlerFan1488 (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanhood (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanblog (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanlation (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanslation (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · uberfan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · faan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · sports fan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · transfan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fringefan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanwear (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanwork (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fangame (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · ifan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanpire (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · lolfan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · acafan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · FIAWOL (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · bandwagon fan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanmix (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · Mirfanda (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fair-weather fan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fangirl (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanboy (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fanzine (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · WKF (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · zinefan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · fan letter (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · anti-fan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · mediafan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2)) · Pokéfan (Terms derived from fan (noun, etymology 2))
(Hong-Kong, dated) A unit of length, equivalent to 0.1 tsun (0.01 chek), or 0.00371475 metres.
1 chek (foot) = 14⅝ English inches divided into 10 tsün (inches) and each tsün into ten fan or tenths. 1939, chapter XI, in Colonial Reports - Annual Issues, page 37: