Vent
(Vent) n. [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.) 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.
Ventage
(Vent"age) n. A small hole, as the stop in a flute; a vent. Shak.
