dogvane

Definitions

1. A small vane of bunting, feathers, or other light material, fastened to the end of a short staff and placed on the weather gunwale of a sailing ship to assist the helmsman to judge the direction of the wind.
2. A cockade worn on a hat (worn in the British Navy in the 18th and 19th centuries)
   obsolete

Examples

“she had an ugly knack of stopping, and swinging one leg all manner of ways, like⟳ a dogvane in a calm.”

“Nor was any mariner surprised when, after inspecting the compass, and then the dog-vane, and then ascertaining the precise bearing of the odor as nearly as possible, Ahab rapidly ordered the ship’s course to be slightly altered, and the sail⟳ to be shortened.”

CEFR level