fan

fan

fan¹ [fan]

n.

[ME fanne < OE fann < L vannus, basket for winnowing grain < IE base * wē-, to blow, flutter > WIND², WINNOW]

1. Historical a device for winnowing grain

2. any device or machine used to set up a current of air for ventilating or cooling; specif.,

a) any flat surface moved by hand

b) a folding device made of paper, cloth, etc. which when opened has the shape of a sector of a circle

c) a device consisting of one or more revolving blades or vanes attached to a rotary hub and operated by a motor

3. anything in the shape of a FAN¹ (n. 2b), as the tail of a bird

4. in a windmill, a small vane that keeps the large vanes, or sails, at right angles to the wind

vt.

fanned, fanning [ME fannen < OE fannian]

1. to move or agitate (air) with or as with a fan

2. to direct a current of air toward or on with or as with a fan; blow on

3. to stir up; excite

4. to blow or drive away with a fan

5. to spread out into the shape of a FAN¹ (n. 2b)

6. to separate (grain) from chaff

☆ 7. Slang

a) to spank

b) to fire (a pistol) several times quickly in succession by slapping the hammer back as with the alternate hand between shots

☆ 8. Baseball to strike (a batter) out

vi.

☆ Baseball to strike out

to strike out

——————

fan out

to scatter or spread out like an open FAN¹ (n. 2b)

——————

fan the air

to strike at but fail to hit something

☆ fan² [fan ]

n.

[contr. < FANATIC]

a person enthusiastic about a specified sport, pastime, or performer; devotee [a baseball fan, movie fan]