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Weather vane
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Look up <i> weather vane</i> in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. <p>A wind vane, weather vane, or weathercock is an <a href="/facts/List_of_weather_instruments/ArI0Pg1r">instrument</a> used for showing the <a href="/facts/Wind_direction/IjdaT59D">direction</a> of the <a href="/facts/Wind/Nt0QIu5B">wind</a>. It is typically used as an architectural ornament to the highest point of a building. The word <i>vane</i> comes from the <a href="/facts/Old_English/9rsmQG2a">Old English</a> word <i>fana</i>, meaning "flag". </p> <p>Although partly functional, wind vanes are generally decorative, often featuring the traditional <a href="/facts/Chicken/RD2eTd83">cockerel</a> design with letters indicating the <a href="/facts/Points_of_the_compass/jPKnTUYz">points of the compass</a>. Other common motifs include ships, arrows, and horses. Not all wind vanes have pointers. In a sufficiently strong wind, the head of the arrow or cockerel (or equivalent) will indicate the direction from which the wind is blowing. </p><p>Wind vanes are also found on small <a href="/facts/Wind_turbines/lUfWqfLg">wind turbines</a> to keep the wind turbine pointing into the wind. </p>