A piece of buntin extended on a wooden stock, which turns upon a spindle at the mast-head; it shows the direction of the wind.
♦ A distinguishing vane, denotes the division of a fleet to which a ship of the line belongs, according to the mast on which it is borne.
♦ Dog-vane. A small light vane, formed of thin slips of cork, stuck round with feathers, and strung upon a piece of twine. It is usually fastened to the top of a half-pike, and placed on the weather side of the quarter-deck, in order to show the helmsman the direction of the wind.