NYT Dictionary

VANE

/veɪn/
NounVAYNGrade 6

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

A weather vane.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English vane, Southern Middle English variant of fane, from Old English fana (“cloth, banner, flag”), from Proto-West Germanic *fanō, from Proto-Germanic *fanô, from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂n- (“something woven; weave; tissue; fabric; cloth”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Foone (“flag, banner”), Dutch vaan (“banner, flag”), German Low German Fahn (“flag”), German Fahne. Doublet of obsolete fane (“weathercock; banner”) and fanon.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

vexillumfinweathervanebladewebanemometercockweathercock

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 11 recorded puzzles:

Join the Spelling Bee Community

Get solving strategies, rare word lists, and puzzle tips in your inbox every week.