noun
- Small vanes or flags attached to a ship's rigging to show the direction of the wind; used by sailors to gauge wind conditions.
Usage: nautical; plural form; singular is dogvane; also called wind vanes or telltales
Examples
- The sailors checked the dogvanes to determine the wind direction before adjusting the sails.
- Dogvanes fluttered from the rigging, helping the crew read the subtle shifts in the breeze.
- The captain instructed the crew to install new dogvanes on the mast.
- By observing the dogvanes, the navigator could anticipate changes in wind patterns.