fan

name

1. The station code of Fanling in Hong Kong.

noun

1. Initialism of file area network.
2. Initialism of free amino nitrogen, amino acids available for yeast metabolism.

verb

Etymology: 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.

1. 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: […]”

2. 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.”

3. To move or spread in multiple directions from one point, in the shape of a hand-held fan.
4. To dispel by waving a hand-held fan.

   “I attempted to fan the disagreeable odour out of the room.”

5. 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.”

6. To invigorate, like flames when fanned.

   “She comes, to fan my ardour, She kills me with her kisses.”

7. 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."”

8. 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.”

9. To strike out.
10. To strike out (a batter).
11. To fail to properly shoot or pass the puck.