Meaning

noun a device for creating a current of air by movement of a surface or surfaces

noun an enthusiastic devotee of sports

noun an ardent follower and admirer

originInherited from Middle English fan, inherited from Old English fann (“a winnowing, fan”), derived from Latin vannus (“fan for winnowing grain”), derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₂weh₁- (“to blow”). Cognates *Latin ventus (“wind”) *Dutch wan (“winnowing basket”) *German Wanne (“winnowing basket”) *Swedish vanna (“a fan for winnowing”) *Old English windwian (“to fan, winnow”). More at winnow.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0