Meaning

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

verb strike out (a batter), (of a pitcher)

noun an enthusiastic devotee of sports

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