A weather vane (or weathercock) is an instrument for showing the direction of the wind . They are typically used as an architectural ornament to the highest point of a building.
Although partly functional, weather 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 weather vanes have pointers.
The word 'vane' comes from the Old English word 'fane' meaning 'flag'.
Read more about Weather Vane: Operation, History, World's Largest Weather Vane, Slang Term
Famous quotes containing the word weather:
“And there could I marvel my birthday
Away but the weather turned around. And the true
Joy of the long dead child sang burning
In the sun.”
—Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)