(Zool.) Any one of several species of parrots of the genus Coracopsis, native of Madagascar; -- called also vasa parrot. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. vannus a van, or fan for winnowing grain: cf. F. van. Cf. Fan, Van a wing Winnow. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A fan or other contrivance, as a sieve, for winnowing grain. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ OF. vanne, F. vanneau beam feather (cf. It. vanno a wing) fr. L. vannus. See Etymology above. ] A wing with which the air is beaten. [ Archaic ] “[ /Angels ] on their plumy vans received him. ” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

He wheeled in air, and stretched his vans in vain;
His vans no longer could his flight sustain. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cornish. ] (Mining) A shovel used in cleansing ore. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Abbrev. fr. vanguard. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Standards and gonfalons, twixt van and rear,
Stream in the air. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Abbreviated from caravan. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A light wagon, either covered or open, used by tradesmen and others for the transportation of goods. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A large covered wagon for moving furniture, etc., also for conveying wild beasts, etc., for exhibition. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A closed railway car for baggage. See the Note under Car, 2. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Mining) To wash or cleanse, as a small portion of ore, on a shovel. Raymond. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. F. vanner to winnow, to fan. See Van a winnowing machine. ] To fan, or to cleanse by fanning; to winnow. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. vanadate. ] (Chem.) A salt of vanadic acid. [ Formerly also vanadiate. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, vanadium; containing vanadium; specifically, designating those compounds in which vanadium has a relatively higher valence as contrasted with the vanadous compounds; as, vanadic oxide. [ 1913 Webster ]

Vanadic acid (Chem.), an acid analogous to phosphoric acid, not known in the free state but forming a well-known series of salts. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Min.) A mineral occurring in yellowish, brownish, and ruby-red hexagonal crystals. It consists of lead vanadate with a small proportion of lead chloride. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or containing, vanadium; specifically, designating those compounds in which vanadium has a lower valence as contrasted with the vanadic compounds; as, vanadious acid. Usually written vanadous. [ Sometimes written also vanadous. ] [ 1913 Webster ]