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vanning

[van-ing]
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noun
  1. travel by means of a small van or truck that has been fitted out with living accommodations.
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Origin of vanning

van2 + -ing1
Related formsvan·ner, noun

van2

[van]
noun
  1. a covered vehicle, usually a large truck or trailer, used for moving furniture, goods, animals, etc.
  2. a smaller boxlike vehicle that resembles a panel truck, often has double doors both at the rear and along the curb side, and that can be used as a truck, fitted with rows of seats, or equipped with living quarters for traveling and camping.
  3. British.
    1. a railway baggage car.
    2. a covered, boxlike railway car, as one used to carry freight.
    3. a small, horse-drawn wagon or a small truck, as one used by tradespeople to carry light goods.
  4. Also called van conversion. a conventional van whose cargo area has been equipped with living facilities, extra windows, and often increased headroom.
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verb (used with object), vanned, van·ning.
  1. to transport or carry (freight, passengers, etc.) in a van.
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verb (used without object), vanned, van·ning.
  1. to travel in a van.
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Origin of van2

First recorded in 1820–30; short for caravan
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for vanning

Historical Examples

  • His first test was made with the ordinary "vanning shovel," his second with the aid of chemicals.

    The Squire's Daughter

    Silas K(itto) Hocking

  • The vanning spade and shallow washing dish are the prototypes of this kind of ore-dressing machinery.

  • As already pointed out, the object of vanning is to determine the proportion of black tin in the lode stuff.

  • The weighed portion of the ore is placed on the vanning shovel.

British Dictionary definitions for vanning

van1

noun
  1. short for caravan (def. 1)
  2. a covered motor vehicle for transporting goods, etc, by road
  3. British a closed railway wagon in which the guard travels, for transporting goods, mail, etc
  4. British See delivery van
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van2

noun
  1. short for vanguard
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van3

noun tennis, mainly British
  1. short for advantage (def. 3) Usual US and Canadian word: ad
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van4

noun
  1. any device for winnowing corn
  2. an archaic or poetic word for wing
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Word Origin

C17: variant of fan 1

Van

noun
  1. a city in E Turkey, on Lake Van. Pop: 377 000 (2005 est)
  2. Lake Van a salt lake in E Turkey, at an altitude of 1650 m (5400 ft): fed by melting snow and glaciers. Area: 3737 sq km (1433 sq miles)
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for vanning

van

n.1

"front part of an army or other advancing group," c.1600, shortening of vanguard.

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van

n.2

"covered truck or wagon," 1829, shortening of caravan.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper