Vent

vent, n. a small opening to let air, ., escape: the flue of a chimney: the opening in the top of a barrel allowing air to pa in as the liquid is drawn out: a gimlet used to extract a little liquid from a barrel for sampling purposes: discharge: escape: pa age into notice: publication, utterance, voice: the anus of birds and fishes: ( mil. ) the opening at the breech of a firearm through which fire is conveyed to the charge, the touch-hole.— v.t. to give a vent or opening to: to let out, as at a vent: to allow to escape: to publish: to pour forth.— ns. Vent′āge ( Shak. ), a vent, a small hole; Ven′tail ( Spens. ), same as Aventail ; Vent′-bush′ing , -piece , a copper cylinder inserted through the walls of a cannon over the seat of the charge and preventing the escaping gases from injuring the metal near the vent; Vent′er , one who vents or publishes.— adj. Ventic′ūlar .— ns. Vent′-peg , -plug , a plug for stopping the vent of a barrel; Vent′-pipe , an escape-pipe.— Give vent to , to allow to escape or break out. [Altered form of fent , M. E. fente —O. Fr. fente , a slit.]