| 释义 |
▪ I. vent, n.1|vɛnt|
Also 5 ventte, 5–6 vente.
[Variant of fent n.]
1. An opening or slit in a garment, = fent n. 1; now spec. the slit in the back of a coat.
c1430Pilgr. Lyf Manhode iv. lviii. (1869) 203 She hadde..drawen out hire con brest bi þe vente of hire cote. 1459,a1500[see fent n. 1]. 1535in Archaeologia IX. 244 A dublette;..the ventes lyned with sarcenette. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 207 b, Twoo gounes;..the capes and ventes were of frettes of whipped gold of damaske very riche. 1587Holinshed Chron. (ed. 2) III. 820/1 The trappers of the coursers were mantell harnesse coulpened, and in euerie vent a long bell of fine gold in bullion. 1828Carr Craven Gloss., Vent, the opening of the breast of a shirt, or of the sleeve, etc. 1851Mayne Reid Scalp-Hunters vii. 55 Dark-velvet embroidery around the vent and along the borders. 1906Daily Chron. 4 Oct. 3/4 The vent is necessary..owing to the length of the coat.
†2. = crenel 1. Obs.
1429in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) II. 445 Item venttes crest xij fott et di., vs. Ibid., Item pro xij pedibus de ventes pro enbatylment', vs. ijd. 1532in Bayley Hist. Tower (1821) p. xvii, Also fynnysshed and made the vents of brycks of the White Tower. 1570–6Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1596) 424 Kernellare..signifieth that indented forme of the top of a Wall which hathe Vent, and Creast, commonly called Embatteling. 1603B. Jonson K. Jas.'s Entertainm. Wks. (1616) 843 The Scene presented it selfe in a square and flat vpright, like to the side of a Citie: the top thereof, aboue the Vent, and Crest, adorn'd with houses, towres, and steeples.
▪ II. vent, n.2|vɛnt|
[Partly a. F. vent (= It., Pg. vento, Sp. viento):—L. vent-us wind; partly ad. F. évent (OF. esvent), vbl. n. from éventer event v.2]
I.
1. a. The action of emitting or discharging; emission or discharge of something; utterance of words. rare.
1508Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 166, I sall the venome devoid with a vent large, And me assuage of the swalme, that suellit wes gret. 1592Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 334 Free vent of words love's fire doth assuage. 1626Daniel Hist. Eng. Wks. (Grosart) IV. 95 By this immoderate vent, both of the Garrisons, and the ablest people of the Land hee dis⁓furnisht and left it in that impotencie.
†b. to make vent of, to speak or talk of. Obs.—1
1601Shakes. All's Well ii. iii. 213 Thou didst make tollerable vent of thy trauell.
2. a. The action, usually on the part of something confined or pent up in a comparatively small space, of escaping, or passing out; means, power, or opportunity to do this; issue, outlet. Chiefly in phrases with verbs, as to find vent, get vent, have vent, make vent, take vent, or want vent. (Cf. senses 4 and 5.)
1558Warde tr. Alexis' Secr. (1568) 12 b, Stop well the said violle, that nothing maie take vent. 1594Nashe Unfort. Trav. Wks. (Grosart) V. 121 Ye tail of the siluer pipe stretcht itselfe into the mouth of a great paire of belowse, where it was close soldered, and bailde about with yron, [that] it coulde not stirre or haue anie vent betwixt. 1605Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iii. Fathers 293 New Wine..wanting vent, Blows up the Bung, or doth the vessell rent. 1652French Yorkshire Spa ii. 18 By reason of the Suns opening the earth, and making vent. 1684Contempl. St. Man ii. vi. (1699) 196 That Fire of Sulphur, being pent in without vent or respiration, shall send forth a poysonous scent. 1703Art & Mystery of Vintners & Wine-Coopers 60 Beat them and put them into your Wines, so let it rest with Vent, and it will be pursued. 1802Med. Jrnl. VIII. 263 They [waters] got vent chiefly in the night, when in an horizontal position. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. iii. 24 The smoke found ample vent through the holes. 1875Knight Dict. Mech. 1463/1 Blow, the forcing of displaced air through the molten metal from insufficient vent.
transf.1798Malthus Popul. (1817) I. 161 The enterprising spirit and overflowing numbers of the Scandinavian nations soon found vent by sea. 1854J. S. C. Abbott Napoleon (1855) I. xxxii. 496 The inhabitants of Lombardy felt the foreign yoke only in the quickened circulation of wealth, the increased vent for industry.
b. The windage of a firearm or gun.
1644–7N. Nye Art of Gunnery 46 Divide the Bore of the Piece into Twenty equal parts, and one of these parts is sufficient vent for any Piece; the rest of the nineteen parts must be the height of the shot. 1704J. Harris Lex. Techn. I, Vent, in Gunnery,..the Difference between the Diameter of a Bullet, and the Diameter of the Bore of the Piece. [Hence in Phillips (1706), etc.] 1798Hutton Course Math. (1807) II. 353 The loss of the elastic fluid by the vent and windage of the gun.
c. full vent, advb. phr., at full pitch; to the utmost of one's capacity.
1927D. H. Lawrence Mornings in Mexico 11 It is so unlike him, to be whistling full vent, when any of us is around.
3. to give vent (with to or indirect object):
a. To afford or provide with an outlet or means of escape; to cause or allow to issue or flow out.
After F. donner vent, used in the same senses.
1594Plat Jewell-ho. 68 Be carefull in the beginning to give some little vent to the hogshead while it worketh. 1661Hickeringill Jamaica 32 A milky liquor running out, so soon as you give it vent. 1662Charleton Myst. Vintners (1675) 181 To cure Rhenish of its Fretting..they seldom use any other art, but giving it vent, and covering the open Bung with a Tile or Slate. 1706Phillips (ed. Kersey) s.v., To give Vent to a Cask of Wine. 1725Fam. Dict. s.v. Tart, You must..make a small Hole in the form of a Cross in the middle to give the Farce in the Crust some vent. 1830Lyell Princ. Geol. I. 318 The principal region in the old World, which, from time immemorial, has been agitated by earthquakes, and has given vent at certain points to subterranean fires. 1842Loudon Suburban Hort. 289 In order to give vent to the rising sap. 1875[see vent-wire in sense 17 a].
transf.1719Boyer Dict. Royal i, Eventer une Mine (la rendre inutile), to give vent to a Mine, to counter-work or countermine it.
b. fig. To give outlet, expression, or utterance (to an emotion, faculty, etc.); to relieve in this way.
1625Massinger Parlt. Love iii. ii, Had I not found out a friend to whom I might impart them [i.e. emotions], and so give them vent, In their abundance they would force a passage. 1677Gilpin Demonol. iii. ii. 10 The vent which the afflicted parties give by their bemoaning of their Estate. 1719De Foe Crusoe ii. (Globe) 597, I found he wanted to give Vent to his Mind. 1781Johnson Lett. (1788) II. 198, I have nobody whom I expect to share my uneasiness,..I give it little vent. 1823Chalmers Serm. I. 423 Oh! how I rejoice when compassion may give full vent to its tenderness. 1852Longfellow Emperor's Bird's-nest iii, Thus as to and fro they went,..Giving their impatience vent. 1904Spectator 20 Feb. 285/2 The voices which gave vent to any great wave of feeling.
c. To utter, burst out with (an exclamation).
1870J. Bruce Life of Gideon xi. 193 He gives vent to the exclamation ‘Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel?’
†4. to take vent, in various fig. or transf. senses. Obs.
a. Of news, etc.: To become known, to be divulged or let out.
1611Sir D. Carleton in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. I. 542 Though all care hathe been taken to carrie y⊇ matter secretly,..yet hath it taken vente [etc.]. 1668D. Smith in Misc. Cur. (1708) III. 57 This presently took vent, and the Turks thought that they had got a Man among them, that could Cure all Diseases Infallibly. 1723Pres. St. Russia II. 123 If Affonassief is no longer at Petersbourg, this Affair cannot take vent; for besides us two and him, no body knows of it. 1728Morgan Algiers II. iii. 253 A conspiracy was formed against him: But it took Vent; and he made cruel Examples of many of the Contrivers.
b. Of coin: To pass into circulation. rare—1.
1641Sc. Acts, Chas. I (1870) V. 341/2 Concerneing..the copper money allreddy coyned, how the same shall take vent and passe in payment in tyme comeing.
c. Of a mine, or powder: To explode imperfectly; to lose explosive power.
1684J. Peter Siege Vienna 41 At which time they sprung two Mines..without any considerable Effect, one of them taking Vent. 1693Evelyn De la Quint. Compl. Gard. I. 27 Gun-Powder, which being bad, or having taken Vent, cannot take Fire.
5. fig.
a. Means of outlet afforded to or obtained by a feeling, faculty, activity, etc.; expression or utterance, or the relief afforded by these. Now chiefly in the phr. to find vent (in something).
1603J. Davies (Heref.) Microcosmos Wks. (Grosart) I. 76/2 Griefes doe breake the heart if vent they misse. 1682Dryden Medal 295 The swelling Poison of the sev'ral Sects, Which, wanting vent, the Nations Health infects. 1724A. Collins Gr. Chr. Relig. Pref. p. xxviii, Enthusiasm..would spend itself by free vent and amicable collision. 1803Edwin I. 206 At his words I found my angry passions heave for vent. 1838F. A. Kemble Resid. in Georgia (1863) 13 A malevolent feeling, which might find vent in some violent demonstration against this family. 1880W. H. Dixon Royal Windsor III. xii. 113 Passion found vent in words.
†b. to get vent or have vent, = sense 4 a. Obs.
1667Dryden & Dk. Newcastle Sir M. Mar-all iii. ii, This frightened him into a study how to cloak your disgrace, lest it should have vent to his lady. 1672Marvell Reh. Transp. i. 46 Should they unhappily get vent abroad,..what scandal must it raise! a1715Burnet Own Time (1766) II. 197 But the thing had got some vent. 1722De Foe Plague 2 As it had gotten some Vent in the Discourse of the neighbourhood, the Secretaries of State gat Knowledge of it.
6. a. With a: An opportunity or occasion of escaping or issuing from a receptacle; a discharge or evacuation. (Cf. 12.)
1644Z. Boyd Gard. Zion in Zion's Flowers (1855) App. 10/1 Which by some chink, if it get not a vent, Blowes up the bung, or doth the Hodg-head rent. 1672R. Wild Poet. Licent. 30 The other day into a place I went, Where Mortals use to go, that want a vent. 1719De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 290, I verily believe, if it had not been eas'd by a Vent given in that Manner, to the Spirits, I should have dy'd. 1725N. Robinson Th. Physick 255 Whereupon the Fluids..run to the Bowels for a Vent.
b. fig. (Cf. senses 3 and 5.) Now chiefly to find a vent.
(a)a1614D. Dyke Myst. Self-Deceiving (1630) 341 Tappes to giue a vent to corruption. 1669Gale Crt. Gentiles i. i. ix. 49 The Egyptians..gave a great vent to Jewish Learning and Institutes. 1777Pitt in Almon Anecd. (1810) II. xliv. 319, I could not have slept..without giving this vent to my eternal abhorrence of such preposterous and enormous principles.
(b)1697Collier Ess. Mor. Subj. ii. (1703) 64 Those who live within the communication of friendship have a vent for their misfortunes. 1814Wordsw. Excurs. ix. 752 For, though in whispers speaking, the full heart Will find a vent. 1838Prescott Ferd. & Is. Introd. (1846) I. 60 The tumultuous spirits of the aristocracy,..instead of finding a vent..in these foreign expeditions, were turned within. 1873Black Princess Thule (1874) 46 His distress at his own rudeness now found an easy vent.
7. Something which serves as an outlet for an emotion, energy, etc.
1667Milton P.L. xii. 374 With such joy Surcharg'd, as had like grief bin dew'd in tears, Without the vent of words. 1713Guardian No. 29, Laughter is a vent of any sudden joy. 1828Southey Minor Poems Poet. Wks. 1837 II. 255 This love,..and the woe Which makes thy lip now quiver with distress, Are but a vent..From the deep springs of female tenderness. 1832Lytton Eugene A. i. x, Words at best are but a poor vent for a wronged and burning heart. 188319th Cent. May 887 The French have..to find and to use such vents for their energy in undeveloped and promising regions.
II.
†8. Sc. A flaw in a mould. Obs.—1
Fr. évent is used in similar senses.
1541Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. VIII. 125 At the quhilk melting becaus of ane vent in the cuppeling of the mulde witht the tayll, the pece felȝeit.
9.
†a. An opening by which blood issues from the body. Obs.
1567J. Maplet Gr. Forest 7 b, Ematites..is called of some stench bloud, for that it stoppeth his vent or course of flowing. 1606Shakes. Ant. & Cl. v. ii. 353 Heere on her brest There is a vent of Bloud, and something blowne.
b. The anus, anal, or excretory opening of († persons or) animals, esp. of certain non-mammalians, as birds, fishes, and reptiles; † the vulva of a female animal.
1587Fleming Contn. Holinshed III. 1270/2 For those that bled till they died, stroue so much with their sickenesse, that the bloud issued out at their vents. 1655Moufet & Bennet Health's Improv. (1746) 241 As for their [i.e. crabs'] manner of Preparation, their Vents are first to be stopped with a Stick's end. 1675H. Woolley Gentlew. Comp. 132 Geese Boiled... Fasten the neck and vent. Ibid. 146 Take a Pig, and draw out his Entrails, Liver, and Lights, draw him very clean at vent. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 421 For when her pouting Vent declares her Pain, She [i.e. a mare] tears the Harness, and she rends the Rein. 1769Mrs. Raffald Eng. Housekpr. (1778) 21 Take a lobster, if it be alive, stick a skewer in the vent of the tail. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) IV. 347 Like birds, they [i.e. sloths] have but one common vent for the purposes of propagation, excrement, and urine. 1790T. Bewick Hist. Quadrup. (1807) 488 As soon as the Otter has caught a fish, it..devours a part, as far as the vent. 1833Jardine Humming-B. 111 The vent and under tail-coverts are dirty white. 1874Carpenter Ment. Phys. i. ii. (1879) 68 If the vent of a Frog be irritated with a probe, the hind-legs will endeavour to push it away.
10. a. An aperture or opening occurring or made in something and serving as an outlet for air, liquid, or other matter; a passage or hole by which matter is carried off or discharged from the interior of something; a vent-hole.
1570Levins Manip. 66 A Vent, meatus, porus. 1580Harvey Three Lett. Wks. (Grosart) I. 44 The poores, and ventes, and crannies of the Earth being so stopped. 1605B. Jonson Volpone ii. iv, Now, he flings about his burning heat, As in a furnace, some ambitious fire, Whose vent is stopt. 1648Wilkins Math. Magic ii. xii. 250 Others are of opinion that this may be effected in a hollow vessell, exactly luted or stopped up in all the vents of it. 1677in Misc. Curiosa (1708) III. 249 They leave a small vent about two Inches from the bottom, by which it empties it self into a little Pit... The vent being stopped, they fill the Cistern they have made with Water. 1712–4Pope Rape Lock iv. 92 The swelling bag he rent, And all the Furies issu'd at the vent. 1728E. Smith Compl. Housew. (1750) 3 If the knife be greatly daubed, has a rank smell, and a hoogoo issue from the vent, it is tainted. 1796Morse Amer. Geogr. I. 609 The Shenandoah having ranged along the foot of the mountain an hundred miles to seek a vent. 1831J. Holland Manuf. Metal II. 165 It was generally thought sufficient for the purpose..that the smoke should ascend the proper vent. 1877in J. A. Allen Amer. Bison App. 459 There are old spring vents..that no longer give forth saline waters.
b. spec. An aperture or outlet by which volcanic matter or exhalations are emitted; the funnel or pipe of a volcano.
1604E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies iii. xxiv. 193 Although we finde vents of fire in other places, as mount ætna and Wesuvio. 1684–5Boyle Min. Waters 19 Any subterraneal fire, that hath manifest chimneys or vents. 1725De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 242 A volcano, or burning vent among the hills, had flamed out. 1772–84Cook's Voy. (1790) IV. 1219 Another volcano, which had opened by at least thirty different vents within the compass of half a mile. 1830Lyell Princ. Geol. I. 135 These igneous vents were extremely numerous. 1869J. Phillips Vesuv. iii. 60 A new vent was formed below the lip of the old mountain. 1882Geikie Text-bk. Geol. 201 A ‘solfatara’, or vent emitting only gaseous discharges.
c. In various special uses (see quots.).
1611Cotgr., Esvent, the vent of a wine vessell. 1730Bailey (fol.), Vents (in Archit.), Pipes of Lead or Potters-Ware, one End of which opens into a Cell of a Necessary-House, the other reaching to the Roof of it for the Conveyance of the fetid Air; also Apertures made in those Walls that sustain Terrasses to furnish Air, and to give a Passage for the Waters. 1756Dict. Arts & Sci. s.v. Foundery of Statues, The vents are passages at top to let the air freely out, whilst the metal runs. 1823E. Moor Suffolk Wds., Vent, the hole of a cask for the reception of a vent-peg. 1875Knight Dict. Mech. 2703/1 Vent, the term employed to comprehend the channels and passages by which the air, or gases, escape from the mold.
d. Sc. The flue or funnel of a chimney; a chimney.
1756M. Calderwood in Coltness Collect. (Maitl. Club) 253 Neither are they [the stoves] put in the place for the chimney, but in another part of the room, and have a communication with the vent. 1798in Gordon Shaw's Hist. Moray (1882) I. 322 Each vent springs lightly from the blue roof of its own separate airy column. 1815Ann. Register, Chron. 43 A hole broke through into a neighbouring vent to carry off the smoke. 1842J. Aiton Domest. Econ. (1857) 77 Sometimes all the purposes of a stove have been served by having a flue introduced into the kitchen vent. 1889Barrie Window in Thrums 11 Ye micht gang up to the attic, Leeby, an' see if the spare bedroom vent at the manse is gaen.
e. Mining. (See quot.)
1886J. Barrowman Sc. Mining Terms 69 Vent,..a return airway.
f. = port n.3 4 d.
1940Electronics Mar. 54/2 The vent should be located near the speaker... The vent areas need not necessarily be circular. 1975G. J. King Audio Handbk. vi. 143 (caption) Inside of Rectavox Omni Mk II loudspeaker system, showing the bass and treble units, the tube extension from the vent and the frequency divider network at the bottom.
11. a. An opening, aperture, or hole; occas., one by which air, etc., enters or is admitted.
1593Shakes. Lucr. 310 Through little vents and crannies of the place The wind wars with his torch to make him stay. 1597― 2 Hen. IV, Induct. 2 Open your Eeres: For which of you will stop The vent of Hearing, when loud Rumor speakes? 1659J. Leak Waterwks. 23 Pour Water into the Vessels by the hole or vent M. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 56 Th' industrious Kind..contrive To stop the Vents and Crannies of their Hive. 1728Pope Dunc. ii. 80 A place there is..Where, from Ambrosia, Jove retires for ease. There in his seat two spacious vents appear. 1730Bailey (fol.), Vents (with Essayers, Glass-makers, &c.) is a Term applied to the Covers of Wind-Furnaces, by which the Air enters. 1768White Selborne xiv, Deer [when drinking]..can open two vents, one at the inner corner of each eye, having a communication with the nose. 1810Encycl. Brit. (ed. 4) VI. 410/2 An oblong gaping vent on the anterior slope [of the shell]. 1827Gentl. Mag. XCVII. ii. 69/2 One of the numerous cracks or fissures (locally called vents) that intersect the strata at this place [near Maidstone].
†b. A creek or inlet. Obs.—1
1604E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies iii. xi. 155 Having discovered this vent [Sp. abra], they found it ranne more and more into the land.
c. An opening or aperture in a building, etc., communicating with the outside air.
1617Moryson Itin. i. 223 This Church..is very darke, having no light but by one window or vent, made through the earth. 1632Lithgow Trav. vii. 306 The streets are..couered to saue them from the parching heate with open vents for light. 1675Worlidge Syst. Agric. (ed. 2) 286 You may this Month stop up your Bees close, so that you leave breathing vents. 1821Scott Kenilw. x, By some concealed vent the smithy communicated with the upper air.
d. The hole or channel in the breech of a cannon or firearm through which fire is communicated to the charge; the touch-hole; the adjustable part of a gun containing this, a vent-piece.
1667Milton P.L. vi. 583 For sudden all at once thir Reeds Put forth, and to a narrow vent appli'd With nicest touch. 1797Phil. Trans. LXXXVII. 238 The velocity of the bullet is considerably greater when the cannon is fired off with a vent tube,..than when the vent is filled with loose powder. 1802James Milit. Dict. s.v., The most common method is to place the vent about a quarter of an inch from the bottom of the chamber or bore. 1828Spearman Brit. Gunner (ed. 2) 412 Spare vents should be sent to replace such as might be damaged. 1859Wraxall tr. R. Houdin xxi. 319 The pistols were handed to me; I called attention to the fact that the vents were clear. 1876Voyle & Stevenson Milit. Dict. s.v., A vent is formed by drilling a channel, 2/9-inch in diameter, through a copper bush. Ibid., There are two kinds of copper bushes used, viz. the through vent, and the cone vent.
e. Mining. (See vent-hole 1 b, quot. 1883.)
12. transf. Any outlet or place of issue; a passage, exit, or way out. Chiefly fig.
In some contexts not clearly separable from sense 6.
1602Marston Antonio's Rev. ii. iii, Here is a vent to passe my sighes. 1629Ford Lover's Melancholy v. M j, My teares like ruffling winds lockt vp in Caues, Do bustle for a vent. 1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. i. x. 25 Such widows grief is quickly emptyed, which streameth out at so large a vent. 1711Pope Temple Fame 481 When thus ripe lies are to perfection sprung,..Thro' thousand vents, impatient, forth they flow. 1794Cowper Needless Alarm 86 Winds for ages pent In earth's dark womb have found at last a vent. 1860Emerson Cond. Life, Behaviour Wks. (Bohn) II. 389 There is some reason to believe that, when a man does not write his poetry, it escapes by other vents through him. 1868Bain Ment. & Mor. Sci. iv. iii. §2. 339 There is at the outset a struggle, but the refusal of the muscular vent seems to be the extinction of the other effects.
III. †13. a. The scent given off by a hunted animal; = scent n. 2. Obs. rare.
1576Turberv. Venerie 61 When my Hounde doth streyne vpon good vent. 1591Harington Orl. Fur. xvii. xxiv, He hunteth like a spaniell by the vent, His sent is such as none can hope to shun him. 1719Boyer Dict. Royal i. s.v., The Stag leaves a stronger wind, vent, or scent than the Hare.
†b. Perception by scent or smell. Obs.—1
1576Turberv. Venerie 73 These be olde hartes.., whiche chaunge their laire, as the wynd chaungeth, to haue perfect vent..what faulte may perhappes be in their feede.
†14. A wind. Obs.—1
1580Hudson Du Bartas' Judith v. (1613) 64 Let him that serues the time,..With faith vnconstant saile at euerie vent.
†15. A hint or whisper of something. Obs.—1
1613in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 149 There is great reason you should..recommend this cause to my secresy; for if there come forth but the least vent of it, I know actum est de me.
16. The action on the part of an otter of coming to the surface of the water in order to breathe; an instance or occasion of this.
1653Walton Angler ii. 43 The Otter, which you may now see above water at vent. 1741Compl. Fam.-Piece ii. i. 306 Observe his Vents, that you may strike him with your Otter Spear. 1856‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Rur. Sports 144/2 Unless the hunters are in sufficient numbers to watch the stream for miles, for his ‘vent’, he will probably never be seen again. a1862Foster in Whistle-Binkie (1878) II. 262 The vents grow more frequent, the music more deep, And scarce from the surface the otter can keep.
IV.
17. attrib. a. In the sense ‘used for, serving as, providing, or connected with a vent’, as vent-pit, vent-shaft, vent-way; in the names of things or devices, as vent-cock, vent-faucet, vent-pipe, vent-plug, vent-wire (see quots.). See also vent-peg.
1875Knight Dict. Mech., *Vent-cock, a device for admitting air to a vessel from which liquid is to be drawn, or permit the escape of gas.
Ibid., *Vent-faucet, an instrument which may act as a vent-hole borer or a faucet to draw a portion of liquor from the vessel.
1843Tizard Brewing 451 This plan is greatly superior to the iron *vent nail.
1858Simmonds Dict. Trade, *Vent-pipe, an air-pipe; an escape pipe for steam.
1725J. Reynolds View Death (ed. 2) 22 This pit is, with us, call'd the *vent-pit or the air-shaft.
1843Tizard Brewing 451 The nature of the materials employed..demands an adequate number of *vent plugs.
1875Knight Dict. Mech., *Vent-wire (Founding), a long steel wire,..used..for giving vent to green and dry sand-molds.
b. In sense 11 d, as vent-astragal, vent-bit, vent-field, vent-piece, vent-plug, vent-server, vent tube, etc. (see quots.).
Also vent-cover, vent-punch, vent-stopper (1875 in Knight).
1769Falconer Dict. Marine (1780) s.v. Cannon, The first reinforce therefore includes..the vent-field; the *vent-astragal, and first reinforce-ring. 1802James Milit. Dict., Vent-astragal, that part of a gun or howitzer which determines the vent-field.
1846A. Young Naut. Dict. 358 *Vent-bit, a species of gimblet used for clearing the vent of a gun when choked. 1769*Vent-field [see vent-astragal above]. 1802James Milit. Dict., Vent-field, is the part of a gun or howitz between the breech mouldings and the astragal. 1846A. Young Naut. Dict. 358 Vent-field, a rectangular piece of the metal raised a little upon a gun; through it the vent is bored.
1859F. A. Griffiths Artill. Man. (1862) 205 *Vent Piece, a plug of steel or wrought iron, containing the vent. 1868Rep. Munitions War 146 A 7-inch breech-loading polygrooved rifled gun on the Armstrong ventpiece system. 1875Knight Dict. Mech., Vent-piece,..the block which closes the rear of the bore in a breech-loader.
1846A. Young Naut. Dict. 358 *Vent-plug, a tight plug made of leather, plaited rope-yarn, or oakum, which one of the men thrusts into the vent of a gun. 1867Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Vent-plug, a fid or stopple made of leather or oakum fitting in the vent of a piece to stop it against weather, etc.
1876Voyle & Stevenson Milit. Dict. 452/1 *Vent-server, an article used for serving the vents of M.L.R. guns, 64-prs. and upwards, in lieu of serving the vent with the thumb.
1797Phil. Trans. LXXXVII. 238 The velocity of the bullet is considerably greater when the cannon is fired off with a *vent tube.
c. In sense 9 b, as vent-feather, one of the feathers covering or surrounding a bird's vent.
1776Pennant Brit. Zool. II. 571 The whiteness of the coverts of the tail and vent-feathers. 1797Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XIII. 505/2 The Vent, or vent-feathers (crissum), which lies between the thighs and the tail. 1815Stephens in Shaw Gen. Zool. IX. i. 98 Abdomen and vent-feathers whitish. 1834Mudie Feathered Tribes I. 11 The vent feathers, and under tail coverts, which cover the hinder part of the bird.
▪ III. vent, n.3 Obs. exc. arch.
Also 6–7 vente.
[In senses 1–3 a. F. vente (= Sp. venta, Prov. and Pg. venda, It. vendita):—pop.L. *vendita n., from L. venditus, pa. pple. of vendĕre to sell. Cf. vend n. In sense 4 directly ad. Sp. venta.
In senses 1 and 2 the word is very common from c 1550 to c 1750, freq. with adjs. denoting the readiness or profitableness of trade.]
1. The fact, on the part of commodities, of being disposed of by sale or of finding purchasers; freq. in the phrases to find or have (..) vent.
a. With a (or no).
1545Brinklow Compl. ii. (1874) 11 This being reformed, aboue all other actes shal bryng the cloth of England to a contynuall vent. a1548Hall Chron., Edw. IV, 236 b, The wolles at Caleis, because of the warre, could haue no vent, nor be vttred. 1655tr. Sorel's Com. Hist. Francion iii. 70 Divers Authors of this our Age have more ridiculously clad their names in a Roman disguise..that their books might have a better vent. 1714French Bk. Rates 242 The Merchandizes carried there from France..lie on Hand, and cannot find a Vent or Market. 1730Col. Rec. Pennsylv. III. 391 Encouragement..given to raise such Commodities that might have a constant and ready vent in Britain. 1782Pegge Curialia Misc. 141 One often sees them advertised for sale; and, if bought at all, they find a vent, no doubt, at Wapping.
b. Without article.
1564in Hudson & Tingey Rec. Norwich (1910) II. 332 The seyde clothes which nowe were owte of estimation and vente. 1573–80Tusser Husb. (1878) 45 A remedie sent, where pease lack vent. 1581W. Stafford Exam. Compl. iii. (1876) 84 Whatsoeuer thing is rered vpon grasing, hath free vente both ouer this side and also beyond the sea, to be sold at the highest penny. 1617Bacon in Fortescue Papers (Camden) 34 For the yearely makeinge of soe many tonnes of allome as..can possiblely receave vent eyther at home or abroade. 1641Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 112 Att these three fayres..the most timely sorte of lambes have very goode vente. 1694J. Locke in Ld. King Life (1830) I. 383 For our books are so dear, and ill printed, that they have very little vent among foreigners. 1768H. Walpole Lett. (1891) V. 116 Like fish that could not find vent in London. a1797― Geo. II (1847) II. vii. 228 The original caricature, which had amazing vent, was of Newcastle and Fox.
2. The fact, on the part of persons, of disposing of goods by sale; opportunity for selling; market or outlet for commodities.
a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 174 We trust you will not moue vs to bye the thyng, whiche wee cannot vtter, for in all places our vent is stopped and forbidden. 1575Brieff Disc. Troub. Franckford (1846) 84 Saying that he woulde stoppe all mennes vents (as he termed it) and receiptes. 1600Holland Livy 1002 To the end, that..they might..be served of a mart-towne for vent, and a place of receit for all forreine merchandise. c1630T. Mun England's Treas. (1664) 17 So far forth as the high price cause not a less vent in the quantity. 1671Charente's Customs Tafiletta 69 As for the Trade and Traffick of those parts, it is much the same,..unless it be that the vent is better in some places than others. 1709in Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) II. 191 The Amsterdam publisher..carrying a considerable part of his impression into France, and hoping for a quick vent there. 1760–72tr. Juan & Ulloa's Voy. (ed. 3) II. 398 The traders..consign..their European goods..to their correspondents in other parts for vent. 1778[W. H. Marshall] Minutes Agric. 19 May 1776, What, then, must be the fate of those who do not keep a minute account, neither of the yield nor of the vent?
b. In phrases with verbs, as to find vent or have vent.
1557–71A. Jenkinson Voy. & Trav. (Hakl. Soc.) I. 116 We be vncertaine what vent or sale you shall finde in Persia. 1601Holland Pliny I. 367 They vsed in old time to gather the Incense but once a yere; as hauing little vent, and small returne, and lesse occasion to sell than now adaies. 1674Marvell Reh. Transp. ii. 54 Or by only naming it hoped to procure vent or better their livelyhood. 1707Mortimer Husb. (1721) II. 62 Such Uses as you design to sell your Wood for, which you must be regulated in by the vent you have.
c. Const. of.
a1548Hall Chron., Edw. IV, 241 Thether was one of their common trafficques and ventes of all their Merchaundice. 1577Holinshed Chron. II. 951/2 By this grant it was thoughte, yt the king might dispend a M. markes sterling a day, such vent of woolles had the English merchants. 1600Hakluyt Voy. (1810) III. 594 Where he had peaceable traffique, and made vent of the whole number of his Negros. 1690Child Disc. Trade (1698) 59 Much foreign trade will encrease the vent of our native manufactures, and much vent will make many workmen. 1700Law Council of Trade (1751) 141 This demand..at home will in all probability make way for the exportation and foreign vent of at least so much more. 1778Eng. Gaz. (ed. 2) s.v. Malton, Malton..was heretofore famous for its vent of corn, fish, and country utensils. 1812G. Chalmers Historical View 46 The alien duties, which had always obstructed the vent of native manufactures.
d. Const. for.
1583Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. (1882) 39 To filch and steale whatsoeuer they can lay their hands vpon, seing they may haue such good vent for y⊇ same. 1591Greene Conny Catch. ii. 3 Any Faire, Mart, or other place where any good vent for horses is. a1661Fuller Worthies, Essex i. (1662) 318, I know not whether it be better to wish them good Wares to Vent, or good Vent for their Wares. 1689Apol. Fail. Walker's Acc. 23 The tenth being more than he hopes to have vent for in England. 1727Pope, etc. Art of Sinking 72, I doubt not, but we shall..procure a farther vent for our own product. 1761Hume Hist. Engl. II. xxvi. 118 If husbandmen understand agriculture, and have a ready vent for their commodities. 1788Priestley Lect. Hist. v. lviii. 460 If..they find a vent for these goods abroad, they will have wherewith to purchase the produce of other countries. 1828Southey in Q. Rev. XXXVII. 546 Yet, even then, more goods were produced than there was vent for. 1868E. Edwards Ralegh I. vi. 97 The ordinary vent for timber of any sort, in Ireland, was very limited.
†3. A place where goods are or may be sold; a market, mart. Obs.—1
1580R. Hitchcock Politic Plat f ij, At Rone in Fraunce which is the chefest vent, be solde our Englishe wares, as Welche and Manchester Cottons.
†4. [After Sp. venta.] An inn or tavern; a baiting or posting house. Obs. (Cf. venta.)
1577Hellowes Gueuara's Chron. 14 The seate of Ystobriga was, where nowe the ventes of Caparra, being bayting places, stand. 1612Shelton Don Quix. i. ii. (1620) 10 He perceiued an Inne, neere vnto the high way;..forthwith as soone as he espied the Vent, he fained to himselfe that it was a Castle. a1625Fletcher Love's Pilgr. i. i, Our house Is but a vent of need, that now and then Receives a guest, between the greater Towns As they come late.
▪ IV. vent, n.4
Theatr. slang abbrev. of ventriloquist.
1893R. Ganthony Practical Ventriloquism iii. 89 The Vent: does not suffer provided he makes capital out of unforeseen interruptions. 1945L. Lane How to become Comedian xiv. 116 When an imaginary character answers from the roof the ‘vent’ looks upwards. 1976National Observer (U.S.) 4 Sept. 6/3 We've got magicians here... We've got jugglers, mentalists, clowns, and vents.
▪ V. † vent
app. a variant spelling of went n.
1513Douglas æneid iii. iv. 40 Fro that place syne ontill ane cave we went, Vndir a hingand hewch, in a derne vent [v.r. went].
▪ VI. † vent, v.1 Obs. rare.
[f. vent n.1]
1. trans. To trim the openings or slits of (a garment). Cf. fent v.
1547in Feuillerat Revels Edw. VI (1914) 16 Longe gownes or Cassockes for women of red Sarcenet..puffyd with whyte sarcenet & ventyd with the same. 1606in Lismore Papers Ser. ii. (1887) I. 111 Fustain to ventt it [sc. a gown] doune before.
2. To crenellate (a wall).
1531in Bailey Hist. Tower (1821) p. xi, The walls..rounde aboute to be copyde, ventyde, lowpyde, and crestyde. Ibid., The walls of the same with one turret to be ventyde.
▪ VII. vent, v.2|vɛnt|
Also 7 vente, ventt.
[f. vent n.2, or ad. F. éventer event v.2 Cf. also avent v. The senses of OF. and F. venter are barely represented here.]
I. trans.
1. a. To provide (a liquor cask, etc.) with a vent or outlet for gas or vapour. Also, to empty (a confined space) of gas in this manner.
1398[see venting vbl. n.]. 1495Trevisa's Barth. De P.R. xvii. clxxxvi. 727 The strengthe of feruent must..brekyth ful stronge vesselles that it is put in, but thei be vented. 1570Levins Manip. 66 To vent, aperire, euacuare. 1580–3Greene Mamillia Wks. (Grosart) II. 57 The wine vessel beyng ful, lets passe no wine, though neuer so wel vented. 1607T. Walkington Opt. Glass 45 The vessel beein[g] vented and broch't, tels the taste what liquor issueth from it. 1703Art & Myst. Vintners & Wine-Coopers 11 They draw them forth for sale as fast as they can vent them. 1947J. C. Rich Materials & Methods of Sculpture xi. 355 Molds may be vented to permit the ready escape of air from undercuts. 1969Times 23 May 1/2, To close their hatch, the pressure in the tunnel had to be lowered. ‘I am not able to vent the tunnel,’ Commander John Young reported at 6.15 p.m...last night. 1978Daily Tel. 18 Aug. 30/6 The balloon's crew were then able to..fall into the most likely airstream by..venting the balloon—letting out the helium and allowing it to drop.
fig.1589Nashe Anat. Absurdity Wks. (Grosart) I. 35 These Bussards thinke knowledge a burthen, tapping it before they haue half tunde it, venting it before they haue filled it.
b. fig. To relieve or unburden (one's heart or soul) in respect of feelings or emotions. Also refl.
c1626W. Bosworth Arcadius & Sepha i. 843 With these, and such like words, he vents his soul Of those..Conjectures. 1631Heywood Engl. Elizabeth (1641) 55 The King having something vented himself with laughing, replied. 1709Steele Tatler No. 22 ⁋2 Without any Purpose in his Talk, but to vent an Heart overflowing with Sense of Success. 1799Winter Let. in Jay Wks. (1843) V. 92, I vented my soul in a line to Mr. Peronet.
2. a. To discharge, eject, cast or pour out (liquid, smoke, etc.); to carry off or away; to drain in this way. Also with advs., as away, down, forth, out. Freq. pass.
Said usually of the containing thing, but sometimes of the force or means by which outlet is given. Examples with advs. are placed under (a).
(a)1587Holinshed Chron. (ed. 2) III. 558/1 The infectious smother of this venemous vapor..had beene readie to choke all christendome, had not by the wisedome..of the princes there, the same the sooner beene vented away. 16022nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass. iv. iii. 1888 Those leaden spouts, That nought downe [v.r. doe] vent but what they do receiue. 1644G. Plattes in Hartlib's Legacy (1655) 198 The pits..will vent away the superfluous water continually, and keep the sellar alwaies dry. 1652French Yorkshire Spa ii. 19 They being vented forth, the heat would..be extinguished.
(b)1633G. Herbert Temple, Providence xviii, Springs vent their streams, and by expense get store. 1646P. Bulkeley Gospel Covt. i. 114 Be not like dry vessels that will vent nothing. 1712W. Rogers Voyage (1718) 383 We found it [the leak] did not encrease more than one pump could vent. 1793Smeaton Edystone L. §297 The copper funnels for venting the smoke from the kitchen fires. 1962F. I. Ordway et al. Basic Astronautics v. 197 After arrival on the moon the fluid is vented. 1969Daily Mail 15 Jan. 5/4 The rocket..vented quite a lot of fuel overboard and the fuel formed millions of ice particles. 1980Nature 29 May 278/3 A total of 10 millicuries of krypton-85 was vented to the atmosphere during the procedure and the engineers received a whole body radiation dose of 10 to 15 mrem. 1983Sci. Amer. Apr. 80/1 The pilot vented the ballast tanks, surrounding Alvin with a column of bubbles.
fig.1622Bacon Hen. VII, 98 If there should bee any bad Bloud left in the Kingdome, an Honourable Forraine Warre will Vent it. a1627Sir J. Beaumont Bosworth F. 552 My Strength is spent, And some perhaps of Villain Blood will vent My weary Soul.
†b. Of persons, animals, or their organs: To cast out, expel, or discharge, esp. by natural evacuation; to evacuate (urine, etc.). Obs.
1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts 249 With a medicine made of an Affrican Sparrow mixed with this, he procured one to make water, and to void a great stone which had not vented his vrine in many daies. 1611Shakes. Cymb. i. ii. 5 Where ayre comes out, ayre comes in: There's none abroad so wholesome as that you vent. 1641Milton Reform. ii. Wks. 1851 III. 70 The very maw of Hell ransack't, and made to give up her conceal'd destruction, ere shee could vent it in that horrible and damned blast. 1656J. Smith Pract. Physick 94 The Chylus..cannot all be changed into water, and if it were changed, yet the Reins can vent it forth. 1738tr. Guazzo's Art Convers. 74 Such as vent such pestiferous Blasts, ought to have their Wind stopt with a Halter. 1846J. Baxter Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4) II. 99 Sheep that are infected with this disorder cannot vent the seed, the ova, from their liver, on the ground.
transf.c1611Chapman Iliad xix. 97 When Alcmena was to vent the force of Hercules.
fig.1608T. Morton Preamb. Encounter 121 Whatsoeuer bitternesse the gall of this man could vent out.
†c. To shed (tears). Also with out. Obs. rare.
1632J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 123 Having first suffered me to vent out my teares, for the disburdning of my heart [etc.]. 1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 16 He..vented the tears of..pleasure, love, and gratitude.
3. a. To give, heave, or utter (a groan, sigh, etc.). Now rare or poet.
1602Marston Antonio's Rev. iv. iv, I..vent a heaving sigh. 1615T. Adams White Devil 42 The poore confident plaintife goes home undone; his moanes, his groanes are vented up to heaven. 1718Pope Iliad xv. 123 Behold Ascalaphus! behold him die, But dare not murmur, dare not vent a sigh. a1763Shenstone Elegies xiv. 45 Beneath her palm Idume vents her moan. 1858H. Bushnell Serm. New Life 10 They even complain, venting heavy sighs. 1872Blackie Lays Highl. 122 Not wise is he who vents an angry breath.
†b. poet. To pour out (one's soul) in death. Obs.
1718Pope Iliad xvi. 387 He sinks,..And vents his soul, effused with gushing gore.
4. fig.
a. To give vent to (an emotion, feeling, passion, etc.); to give free course or expression to; to express; to make manifest or known.
1596Shakes. Tam. Shr. i. ii. 179 Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our loue. 1602Marston Antonio's Rev. ii. iv, I must vent my griefes, or heart will burst. 1641Tatham Distr. State ii. i, Did you e'er Hear spleen better vented. 1676Hobbes Iliad iv. 174 Would Agamemnon thus would alwaies vent His Choler. 1722De Foe Plague (1840) 74 Others, unable to contain themselves, vented their pain by incessant roarings. a1781R. Watson Hist. Philip III v. (1783) 349 The resentment of Spain was farther vented in a manifesto. 1820Scott Monast. xiv, Martin..suppressed not his indignation a moment after he could vent it with safety. 1841Dickens Barn. Rudge xxxii, He vented the lightness of his spirit in smiles and sparkling looks. 1873Symonds Grk. Poets v. 139 Habituated to associate together in large bodies, the Dorians felt no need of venting private feeling.
transf.a1716South Serm. (1744) XI. 222 Things contrary will vent their contrariety in mutual strife.
b. To let loose, pour out, wreak (one's anger, spleen, etc.) on or upon a person or thing. (Cf. 5 b.)
1697Dryden æneid iii. 703 The Winds and Waves complain, And vent their malice on the Cliffs in vain. 1710Tatler No. 260 ⁋3 That fatal distemper, which has always taken a particular pleasure in venting its spight upon the Nose. 1735Johnson Lobo's Abyssinia, Descr. ix. 93 The Viceroy disappointed in this Scheme, vented all his rage upon Father James. 1750― Rambler No. 87 ⁋9 The un⁓successful vent their discontent upon those that excel them. 1816T. L. Peacock Headlong Hall xiii, To vent their spleen on the first idle coxcomb they can find. 1878R. B. Smith Carthage 55 The Carthaginians unable to vent their anger even on the lifeless corpse of the unfortunate Hamilcar,..vented it on his innocent son.
5. fig.
a. To give out or forth, publish or spread abroad, by or as by utterance; to give utterance or publicity to (a doctrine, opinion, etc.); to utter (a word, expression, etc.). † Also const. forth or out.
Very common from c 1600 to c 1750; now somewhat rare or arch.
16022nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass. ii. vi. 954 What Iack, faith I cannot but vent vnto thee a most witty iest of mine. 1633Bp. Hall Hard Texts, N.T. 277 After that God had once vented and declared that his good purpose to mankind. 1648Gage West Ind. 102 And they will be sure to vent out some non-truth. 1712Steele Spect. No. 278 ⁋1 Learning by Heart Scraps of Greek, which she vents upon all Occasions. 1764H. Walpole Lett. (1891) IV. 279, I hate to send you every improbable tale that is vented. 1817Jas. Mill Brit. India II. v. iv. 431 The Presidency vent the most bitter complaints. 1850Merivale Rom. Emp. iii. (1865) I. 107 The noisy declamations he vented about the imaginary dangers of his new Carthage. 1871Blackie Phases of Morals i. 48 He who in an impulse of fearless fervour vents a little too much truth [etc.].
b. With on or upon. (Cf. 4 b.)
1832H. Martineau Hill & Valley vi. 85 Many a curse did the least wise..vent upon the French. 1843Gladstone Glean. (1879) V. 65 The nameless author who has recently vented his chaff..upon the public. 1844Lever T. Burke v, The curse vented on me by one whose ruin..lay at my own father's door.
†c. To disclose, divulge, or let out (a secret, etc.). Obs.
1678Marvell Growth Popery Wks. (Grosart) IV. 276 This affair was carried on with all the secresie of so great statesmen, that they might not by venting it unseasonably, spoil [etc.]. 1679E. Everard Popish Plot 7 When these matters were vented out of [= by] Sir Robert.
6. refl. Of a thing: To discharge (itself); to find issue or exit.
1650Fuller Pisgah iv. v. 81 Nilus venteth itself into the Mediterranean Sea with seven mouths. 1665Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 120 That very year the earth swelled with such a tympany, that in venting it self all Larr was forced to quake. 1684J. Peter Siege Vienna 45 It hapned that they were all left standing, the Mine venting it self upon the Edge of the Ditch. 1726Nat Hist. Ireland 193 A lake..called Loughchorib..vents it self into the sea at Galway.
b. esp. Of an emotion, faculty, quality, etc.: To find vent; to express or show (itself) in something.
(a)1650Fuller Pisgah iv. vii. 138 It is to be feared that this sin finding its usuall way obstructed, will watch its own advantage, to vent itself by some other conveyances. 1702Rowe Amb. Step-Moth. i. i. 375 The Malice of the Faction which I hate Would vent it self even on thy Innocence. 1808in Knox & Jebbs' Corr. I. 456 The fears of men..having been taught..to vent themselves, if I may so speak, through the channel of sacrifice. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. iii. I. 367 The coffee houses were the chief organs through which the public opinion of the metropolis vented itself. a1862Buckle Civiliz. (1869) III. iv. 193 This ill-feeling increased until, in 1580, it vented itself by the abolition of episcopacy.
(b)a1661Fuller Worthies (1840) III. 468 Able and active bodies are not to vent themselves in such vain, though gainful, ostentation. 1669Gale Crt. Gentiles i. iii. i. 8 Affections..delight to vent themselves in Poesie. 1763J. Brown Poetry & Music 102 When the first Fire of Enthusiasm had vented itself in the Rapture of Hymns and Odes. 1819Scott Ivanhoe xxvii, The..decrepit hag..whose wrath must vent itself in impotent curses. a1854H. Reed Lect. Brit. Poets xiii. (1857) II. 159 This cheerfulness has vented itself in his playful poetry.
†7.
a. To eject or expel (people) out of a country. Obs.—1
1609in Gardiner Hist. Eng. I. 438 [A wish that as many natives as possible might be] vented out of the land.
†b. To rid (a kingdom) of people. Obs.—1
1613Sir T. Stafford in Lismore Papers Ser. ii. (1887) I. 199 It will be a good meanes to vent that Kingdome..of a number of Idle men that haue nothinge to doe.
†c. fig. To spend, get rid of (a fortune). Obs.—1
1610B. Jonson Alch. iii. iv, How doe they liue by their wits, there, that haue vented Sixe times your fortunes?
†8.
a. To dispense, distribute. Obs.—1
1616Chapman Odyss. xvii. 345 The Pallace royall..he enter'd..and his Trencher's fraight The Keruers gaue him, of the flesh there vented.
†b. To put (coins, etc.) in circulation or currency; to give in payment; to pay out. Obs.
1629Reg. Privy Counc. Scotl. Ser. ii. III. 20 That nane of thame presoome..to vent and putt amongs his Majesteis subjects anie of the saids Embden dollours. 1655tr. Sorel's Com. Hist. Francion xii. 31 Valerius having filled his Purse with pieces more current than those which he ordinarily vented. 1683Col. Rec. Pennsylv. I. 84 A Question put whether there be not some persons to vent such money here.
†9. To explode or fire (a mine). Obs. rare.
1687J. Richards Siege Buda 14 With directions that if the Miners should meet with the Turks Mine, to Vent it.
10. To supply (a gun) with a vent or vent-piece.
1828Spearman Brit. Gunner (ed. 2) 412 It was recommended that iron ordnance..might be vented previously to their being issued. Ibid., A gun of the same description vented with pure copper. 1879Man. Artill. Exerc. 201 The 80-pr. is vented in the same manner as the 64-pr. 58-cwt. gun.
II. intr.
11. a. Of an exhalation, liquid, smoke, etc.: To find or make an outlet or way of escape from a confined space; to come, flow, pass, or pour out or away by a vent or opening. Also used of a force causing an outlet to be made.
(a)1540–1Elyot Image Gov. (1556) 64 Corrupt exhalacions, ventynge out of mens bodyes. 1560Whitehorne Ord. Souldiours (1588) 45 It will bee surer to let nothing vent out but the glasse it selfe. 1615Day Festivals iv. 100 They were full of new Wine, and the new Wine venting out, the Tongues of all Nations were immediately set a float. 1704Dict. Rust. (1726) s.v. Blood-Spavin, When the Blood and Water have vented away as much as they will do.
(b)1604T. Wright Passions iv. i. 110 New wine..by venting bursteth the bottle. 1645Rutherford Tryal & Tri. Faith (1845) 69 Smoke venteth at the window, when the chimney refuseth passage. 1694Congreve Double-Dealer iv. ii, A cold deadly dew already vents through all my pores. 1886J. Barrowman Sc. Mining Terms 69 To Vent, to have room to pass away. 1966Economist 19 Feb. 686/3 Some of these test explosions ‘vent’ through the earth's surface and thus contaminate the atmosphere. 1970Times 15 Apr. 1/7 The particles have diminished greatly—almost ceased now, which indicates maybe what was venting has almost stopped. 1980Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 27 Nov. 31/4 Fuel was venting from the tanks. The loss was so great that it was doubted that they would make it to an airfield.
fig.1615R. Brathwait Strappado, etc. (1878) 265 For loue enclos'd like raging elements of fire and water, though imprisoned, vents. a1635Naunton Fragm. Reg. (1641) 4 It staved off all Emulations..apt to rise and vent in obloquious acrimonie..where there is one onely admitted into high administrations.
†b. To become known, be divulged. Obs.—1
1622Bacon Hen. VII (1876) 26 The earl presently communicated the matter with some of the nobles,..at the first secretly; but finding them of like affection to himself, he suffered it of purpose to vent and pass abroad.
†12.
a. Of a bottle, confined space, etc.: To have or obtain an outlet by which the contained matter can escape. Freq. fig. or in fig. context. Obs.
1599Broughton's Let. ii. 9 Like an old bottle with new wine, vnlesse you should vent, you would burst. 1614J. Cooke Greene's Tu Quoque in Dodsley O. Pl. (1744) III. 56 My heart is swol'n so big, that it must vent, Or it will burst. 1626B. Jonson Staple of N. i. ii. (1905) 13 Quiet his mouth, that Ouen will be venting else. 1655Nicholas Papers (Camden) II. 324, I cannot forbeare filling vpp my paper with it, for such as we are must vent or we burst.
b. Sc. To let out or discharge smoke; to carry off smoke (well or ill).
1756M. Calderwood in Coltness Collect. (Maitl. Club) 225 And neither great nor small [houses] will vent, which obliges them to use stoves: nay, these stoves will not vent at the chimney, but are often let out in a hole in the outer wall. Ibid. 236 As you know we cannot have in any kitchin above two stoves, because they must vent up the chimney. 1816Scott Antiq. xi, The Green Room disna vent weel in a high wind. 1825Jamieson Suppl. s.v., That lum vents very ill.
c. U.S. Of a brook: To flow into a river.
1784J. Belknap Tour to White Mts. (1876) 7 A large brook, which vents into Pine River.
†13. spec. (See quot.) Obs.—1
1721Bailey, To Vent, (among Glass Plate Workers,) is to crack in Working.
III. †14. a. intr. Of an animal: To snuff up the air, esp. in order to pick up the scent of something. Obs.
1538Elyot, Nicto, tere, to vent as the hound doth, whiche foloweth the dere or hare, or other game. 1552Huloet s.v., Vent or snucke as a hound or spaniell doth, nicto. 1579Spenser Sheph. Cal. Feb. 75 Seest, howe brag yond Bullocke beares, So smirke, so smoothe, his pricked eares?.. See howe he venteth into the wynd. 1612Drayton Polyolb. xiv. 20 At the full-bagg'd cow, Or at the curl-fac'd bull, when venting he doth low,..He never seems to smile. 1660R. Coke Justice Vind. 9 It is observed of the Fox, that whensoever hunted to ground, he never comes out, but at the mouth of the Burrow, he lies and vents a while.
†b. transf. To search or seek for. Obs.—1
1574Hellowes Gueuara's Fam. Ep. (1577) 344, I cannot denie, but that after the manner of a drunkarde, that venteth for the best wine: so doe mine eyes stare and wander to finde out some olde Sepulture.
†15.
a. trans. Of animals, hounds, etc.: To become aware of, to detect or perceive, by means of the sense of smell; = scent v. 1. Obs.
1576Turberv. Venerie 75 If they chaunce once to vent the huntesman or his hounde, they will straight way dislodge from thence. Ibid. 187 He which maketh the trayne, must rubbe the soales of his shoes with Cowes dung, least the Foxe vent his footing. 1611Noble Art Venerie 96 My liege, I went this morning on my quest, My hound did sticke, and seem'd to vent some beast. 1660R. Coke Justice Vind. 9 The Fox,..if he vents any thing which causes fear, returns to ground again. Ibid., So Deer do naturally desire to eat Apples, but if approaching, they vent them to have been handled by man, they forsake them. 1735Somerville Chace iii. 544 Then as o'er the Turf he [a stag] strains, He vents the cooling Stream, and up the Breeze Urges his Course with eager Violence.
†b. transf. To discover or discern. Obs.—0
1611Cotgr., On flaire cela,..men begin to discouer it, vent it, find it out.
16. To smell or snuff at (something). rare.
1634Massinger Very Woman iii. v, Antonio (pours out some wine). She stirs, and vents it: Oh! how she holds her nose up! 1880Shorthouse J. Inglesant I. ii. 43 The hounds came trailing and chanting along by the riverside, venting every tree root.
17. a. intr. Of an otter, or beaver: To rise to the surface in order to breathe. Also transf. of a person (quot. 1600).
1590Cockaine Treat. Hunting D ij b, He [the otter] will vent so oft, and put vp ouer water... At which time some must runne vp the water, some downe, to see where he vents. 1600Fairfax Tasso xv. lx, As when the morning starre escapt and fled, From greedie waues with dewie beames vp flies,..So vented she. 1647Hexham i. s.v., To Vent or take breath as an Otter. 1733Phil. Trans. XXXVIII. 180 When she [sc. a beaver] swam under Water, which she would do for two or three Minutes, and then come up to vent, sometimes raising her Nostrils only above Water. 1735Somerville Chace iv. 433 Th' ascending Bubbles mark his [i.e. an otter's] gloomy Way. Quick fix the Nets, and cut off his Retreat Into the shelt'ring Deeps. Ah! there he vents! 1818Scott Rob Roy xxxiii, One of the otter-hunts..where the animal is detected by the hounds from his being necessitated to put his nose above the stream to vent or breathe. 1856‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Rur. Sports 144/2 The otter..is obliged to come up and ‘vent’ for want of air. 1885Standard 2 April 5/3 Their prey is rising to ‘vent’.
†b. trans. To cause or force (an otter) to come to the surface. Obs.—0
1688Holme Armoury ii. 134/2 An Otter: We watch, and Vent him, when we disturb him. a1700B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Vent the Otter, Dislodge him.
†18. trans. To blow (a horn). Obs.—1
1601F. Tate Househ. Ord. Edw. II, §57 (1876) 44, j to vent the horne shal have ijd. a day wages.
†19. To supply with fresh air; to ventilate. Obs.
1601Holland Pliny I. 440 That all the Apples..be so couched as that they touch not one another, but haue spaces between to receiue equall aire for to bee vented.
†20. To lift up so as to admit air. Obs.—1
1590Spenser F.Q. iii. i. 42 The braue Mayd would not disarmed bee, But onely vented vp her vmbriere, And so did let her goodly visage to appere.
▪ VIII. vent, v.3 Now dial.
Also 6 Sc. went, 7 vente.
[f. F. vente vent n.3]
1. trans. To sell or vend (commodities or goods); to dispose of by sale.
Very common from c 1600 to c 1670.
1478–9Burgh Rec. Edin. (1869) I. 36 It is thocht expedient that all persouns haif licence and leif to cum to the towne with victualls to..vent the samyn on Mononday, Wedinsday, and Fryday. 1542–3Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII, c. 6 Pynnes which be dailie vented, uttered, and put to Sale within this Realme. 1598Sylvester Du Bartas ii. ii. Colonies 665 The In-land Lands might truck and barter, And vent their Wares about to every Quarter. 1605B. Jonson Volpone ii. ii, They are quack-saluers, Fellowes, that liue by venting oyles, and drugs? 1661in J. Simon Ess. Irish Coins (1749) 127 Several persons..took a liberty..to make a kind of brass or copper tokens,..and vented them to the people for a penny each piece. 1672Collins in Rigaud Corr. Sci. Men (1841) I. 200 England doth not vent above twenty or thirty of any new mathematical book he brings over. 1719W. Wood Surv. Trade 217 While Spain remains an independant Nation,..we may always hope to maintain..our Trade to that Kingdom, and vent our Manufactures in the Indies. 1764Burn Poor Laws 153 Hemp and flax,..which now people neglect to sow, because they have no way to vent or employ it. 1790Shirrefs Poems 316 Tak ye tent, How, and to whom your bills ye vent. 1864in O'Donoghue St. Knighton (Cornwall) Gloss. 301.
transf.1652Gaule Magastrom. xxvi, Hereupon the astrologers doe mart or vent the effects of the heavens and the stars.
†b. With various advs., as away, forth, off. Obs.
c1550Disc. Common Weal Eng. (1893) 62 As much as he should haue for the more woll vented ouer, so much should he haue for the lesse woll at a greater custome vented ouer. 1602Carew Cornwall 3 The nearenesse helpeth them..to vent forth and make return of those comodities, which their owne, or either of those countries doe afford. c1630T. Mun England's Treas. 79 We trade to divers places where we vent off our naitive commodities. 1631Heywood Fair Maid of West iii, To vent away our bad commodities.
†c. To let out (land). Obs.—1
1603G. Owen Pembrokeshire viii. (1891) 63 Some land⁓lordes..founde it more comodiouse to keape it in their owne handes then to vente it out at xiid an acre which is the vsualle rent thireof.
†2. intr. Of goods: To have or find sale; to sell, go off (well or ill). Obs.
1622in M. Sellers Eastland Co. (Camden) Introd. 54 Either over cheap pennyworths must cause our said cloths to vent there, or else they will not vent at all. 1628–9Digby Voy. Medit. (Camden) 29 Other thinges that I had which would vent better in that place then in England. 1670J. Smith Eng. Improv. Reviv'd 202 Cherries will vent at most Markets. 1670Narborough Jrnl. in Acc. Sev. Late Voy. i. (1694) 110 Commodities would bear a much greater price than what I mention, and there would vent greater quantities. |