This section is from the book "The Home Cyclopedia Of General Information", by Charles Morris. Also available from Amazon: Home Cyclopedia of Necessary Knowledge.
[AS., from L.] An instrument for blowing away chaff, or for moving the air to cause coolness, or to blow a fire. Ladies' French fans are made of ivory, mother-of-pearl, tortoise-shell, bone, gauze, or feathers. Cheap fans from India and China are palm leaves or split bamboo. Large machine fans, moved by steam power, are used for many purposes, and electric fans to cool large rooms in summer.
 
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