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weather vane
Sign in to saveAlso known as weathervane, wind vane, windvane, wind-vane, weather-vane, weather cock
meteorological instrumentation used for showing the direction of the wind
A weather vane is a device that points in the direction the wind is blowing, helping people determine which way the wind is coming from. It's a useful tool for understanding local weather patterns and conditions.
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- 00 3307 Wetterfahne (Windfahne).jpg
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- man_made=weather_vane
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A wind vane, weather vane, or weathercock is a type of anemoscope used for showing the direction of the wind. It is typically used as an architectural ornament to the highest point of a building. The word vane comes from the Old English word fana, meaning "flag".
A cockerel is a traditional figure used as a vane placed on top of the cardinal directions. Although partly functional, wind vanes are generally decorative, often featuring the traditional cockerel design with letters indicating the points of the compass. Other common motifs include ships, arrows, and horses. Not all wind vanes have pointers. In a sufficiently strong wind, the head of the arrow or cockerel (or equivalent) will indicate the direction from which the wind is blowing.