▪ I. vang Naut.
(væŋ)
[var. fang n. 7 a.]
One or other of the two ropes used for steadying the gaff of a fore-and-aft sail.
| 1769 Falconer Dict. Mar. s.v. Brace, The mizen-yard is furnished with fangs, or vangs, in the room of braces. Ibid., Vangs, a sort of braces to support the mizen gaff, and keep it steady. 1834 M. Scott Cruise Midge (1859) 486 The gaff is violently shaken by the loosened sail; for both vangs and brails are gone. 1851 Voy. to Mauritius i. 35 The orderly officer, seated on the bulwark, and holding on by a vang. 1881 Clark Russell Ocean Free-Lance III. ii. 65 He stood upon the rail..with his arm round the vang. |
▪ II. vang
southern dial. and ME. var. fang n., v.1