van1
n.
a covered motor vehicle used for transporting goods or people.
▸Brit. a railway carriage for conveying luggage, mail, etc.
▸Brit. a caravan.
Etymology
C19: shortening of caravan.
van2
n.
(
the van)
- the foremost part of a group of people, especially the foremost division of an advancing military force.
- the forefront of developments or ideas.
Etymology
C17: abbrev. of vanguard.
van3
n.
- archaic a winnowing fan.
- archaic or literary a bird's wing.
Etymology
ME: dial. var. of fan1, prob. reinforced by OFr. van or L. vannus.