Category:Vent

Vent, n. Etym: [f. vente, fr. L. vendere, -itum, to sell; perh. Confused with e. vent an opening. See vend.]

Defn: sale; opportunity to sell; market. [obs.] Shelton. There is no vent for any commodity but of wool. Sir w. Temple.

Vent Vent, v. t.

Defn: to sell; to vend. [obs.] Therefore did those nations vent such spice. Sir w. Raleigh.

Vent Vent, n. Etym: [sp. venta a poor inn, sale, market. See vent sale.]

Defn: a baiting place; an inn. [obs.]

Vent Vent, v. i. Etym: [cf. F. venter to blow, vent wind (see ventilate); But prob influenced by e. vent an opening.]

Defn: to snuff; to breathe or puff out; to snort. [obs.] Spenser.

Vent Vent, n. Etym: [oe. fent, fente, a slit, f. fente a slit, cleft, Fissure, from fendre to split, l. findere; but probably confused with F. vent wind, l. ventus. See fissure, and cf. Vent to snuff.]

1. A small aperture; a hole or passage for air or any fluid to Escape; as, the vent of a cask; the vent of a mold; a volcanic vent. Look, how thy wounds do bleed at many vents. Shak. Long't was doubtful, both so closely pent, which first should issue From the narrow vent. Pope.

2. Specifically: --(a) (zoöl.)

Defn: the anal opening of certain invertebrates and fishes; also, the External cloacal opening of reptiles, birds, amphibians, and many Fishes. (b) (gun.) The opening at the breech of a firearm, through which fire Is communicated to the powder of the charge; touchhole. (c) (steam boilers) sectional area of the passage for gases divided By the length of the same passage in feet.

3. Fig.: Opportunity of escape or passage from confinement or Privacy; outlet.

4. Emission; escape; passage to notice or expression; publication; Utterance. Without the vent of words. Milton. Thou didst make tolerable vent of thy travel. Shak. To give vent to, to suffer to escape; to let out; to pour forth; as, To give vent to anger. -- to take vent, to escape; to be made public. [r.] -- vent feather (zoöl.), one of the anal, or crissal, feathers of a bird. -- vent field (gun.), a flat raised surface around a vent. -- vent piece. (gun.) (a) a bush. See 4th bush, n, 2. (b) a breech Block.

Vent Vent, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vented; p. pr. & vb. n. Venting.]

1. To let out at a vent, or small aperture; to give passage or outlet To.

2. To suffer to escape from confinement; to let out; to utter; to Pour forth; as, to vent passion or complaint. The queen of heaven did thus her fury vent. Dryden.

3. To utter; to report; to publish. [obs.] By mixing somewhat true to vent more lies. Milton. Thou hast framed and vented very curious orations. Barrow.

4. To scent, as a hound. [obs.] Turbervile.

5. To furnish with a vent; to make a vent in; as, to vent. a mold.