Dogvane

Quick meaning: Dogvane is a noun meaning (nautical) A small vane of bunting, feathers, or other light material, fastened to the end of a short staff and placed on the weather gunwale of a sailing ship to assist the helmsman to judge the direction of the wind.

Meaning

(nautical) A small vane of bunting, feathers, or other light material, fastened to the end of a short staff and placed on the weather gunwale of a sailing ship to assist the helmsman to judge the direction of the wind.

More Meanings

1. (obsolete, nautical) A cockade worn on a hat (worn in the British Navy in the 18th and 19th centuries)

Example Sentences

she had an ugly knack of stopping, and swinging one leg all manner of ways, like a dogvane in a calm.

Nor was any mariner surprised when, after inspecting the compass, and then the dog-vane, and then ascertaining the precise bearing of the odor as nearly as possible, Ahab rapidly ordered the ship’s course to be slightly altered, and the sail to be shortened.

Word Forms

• dogvanes

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include vane, weathervane, paravane, windsail, windsock, anemoscope.

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