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. | 
