E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Fan.
I could brain him with his lady’s fan (1 Henry IV., ii. 3)—i.e. knock his brains out with a fan handle. The ancient fans had long handles, so that ladies used their fans for walking-sticks, and it was by no means unusual for very testy dames to chastise unruly children by beating them with their fansticks.
