Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US) to move around quickly, to run, to escape.

1899		in B.W. Green Virginia Folk-Speech (1912) 169: Fan [...] To stir about briskly.
1905		R. Beach Pardners v (1912) 120: He saw I was drunk, and fanned out, me shootin’ at him with every jump [DA].
1929		C. Coe Hooch! 215: He says she got her dough from him an’ fanned the town as soon as Dopey passed out.
1938		D. Runyon ‘Baseball Hattie’ in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 652: You fan yourself into the kitchen and wash the dishes.
1979		‘Iceberg Slim’ Airtight Willie and Me 70: I fanned out the door.

2. (US) to flaunt oneself deliberately to gain sexual interest.

1902		‘Billy Burgundy’ Toothsome Tales Told in Sl. 65: Maxine fanned the blissful bloke along in good style.
1965		Guild Dict. Homosexual Terms 15: FAN (v.): To stroll about with the purpose of being noticed.
1972		B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 79: fan 1. to wiggle the posterior in order to be noticed [...] 2. (rare) to parade about flagrantly to be noticed and possibly admired.

3. (US Und.) to board a vehicle.

1904

Salt Lake Herald (UT) 19 Oct. 5/1: JImmy ditches the leather and fans a short.

4. (US campus) to play truant, to miss a class.

1989

P. Munro Sl. U. 77: Let’s fan chemistry. I’d rather hit the beach.