dogvane noun2 •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.she had an ugly knack of stopping, and swinging one leg all manner of ways, like a dogvane in a calm. — 1826 •(no longer used) A cockade worn on a hat (worn in the British Navy in the 18th and 19th centuries) formsdogvanes
