VAN • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Van

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noun

Van n. The front of an army; the first line or leading column; also, the front line or foremost division of a fleet, either in sailing or in battle. "Standards and gonfalons, twixt van and rear, Stream in the air."

Van n. (Mining) A shovel used in cleansing ore.

Van n.

A light wagon, either covered or open, used by tradesmen and others for the transportation of goods. (Eng.)

A large covered wagon for moving furniture, etc., also for conveying wild beasts, etc., for exhibition.

A closed railway car for baggage. See the Note under Car, 2. (Eng.)

Van n.

A fan or other contrivance, as a sieve, for winnowing grain.

A wing with which the air is beaten. (Archaic) "(/Angels) on their plumy vans received him. " "He wheeled in air, and stretched his vans in vain; His vans no longer could his flight sustain."

verb

Van v. t. (Mining) To wash or cleanse, as a small portion of ore, on a shovel.

Van v. t. To fan, or to cleanse by fanning; to winnow. (Obs.)

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Etymology of 'Van'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Van" Quotes from Famous Books

... occasion," returned the literal and truth-telling guide; "but it's neither a tongue nor a tribe to my taste. Wherever you find the Mingo blood, in my opinion, Master Flinty-heart, you find a knave. Well, I've seen you often, though it was in battle; and I must say it was always in the van. You must know most of our bullets ...

— The Pathfinder - The Inland Sea • James Fenimore Cooper

... fell into the sea without taking effect. They pressed front against front like lines of troops engaging on land, and the combatants could pass from one ship to another. But the contest between two ships which had engaged each other in the van, was remarkable above the rest. In the Roman ship was Quinctius himself, in the Tarentine, Nico, surnamed Perco, who hated, and was hated by, the Romans, not only on public grounds, but also personally, ...

— The History of Rome; Books Nine to Twenty-Six • Titus Livius

... replied, he thought, a little awkwardly. "Yes, I see you have kept your promise. What a pity it is too late! But I hope you will be able to stop long enough to tell us all about it. This is Mrs. Van Stuyler, who has taken me under her protection on my journey ...

— A Honeymoon in Space • George Griffith

... Fanez, hark what he said thereto: "Ho! Campeador, thy pleasure in all things may we do. Give me of knights an hundred, I ask not one other man. And do thou with the others smite on them in the van While my hundred storm their rearward, upon them thou shalt thrust— Ne'er doubt it. We shall triumph as in God is all my trust." Whatsoever he had spoken filled the ...

— The Lay of the Cid • R. Selden Rose and Leonard Bacon

... of the Rip Van Winkles among our brute creatures have lain down for their winter nap. The toads and turtles have buried themselves in the earth. The woodchuck is in his hibernaculum, the skunk in his, the mole in his; and the black bear has his selected, and will ...

— Winter Sunshine • John Burroughs

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