Vent (?), n. [F. vente, fr. L. vendere, -itum, to sell; perh. confused with E. vent an opening. See Vend.]

Sale; opportunity to sell; market.

[Obs.]

Shelton.

There is no vent for any commodity but of wool. Sir W. Temple.

 

© Webster 1913.


Vent, v. t.

To sell; to vend.

[Obs.]

Therefore did those nations vent such spice. Sir W. Raleigh.

 

© Webster 1913.


Vent, n. [Sp. venta a poor inn, sale, market. See Vent sale.]

A baiting place; an inn.

[Obs.]

 

© Webster 1913.


Vent, v. i. [Cf. F. venter to blow, vent wind (see Ventilate); but prob influenced by E. vent an opening.]

To snuff; to breathe or puff out; to snort.

[Obs.]

Spenser.

 

© Webster 1913.


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) Zool.

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 Zool., 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.

 

© Webster 1913.


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.

 

© Webster 1913.

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