vent

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
vent1

▶noun

• 1 an opening that allows air, gas, or liquid to pass out of or into a confined space.

  ■ the opening of a volcano, through which lava and other materials are emitted.

  ■ chiefly Scottish a flue of a chimney.

• 2 (usu. in phr. give vent to) release or expression of a strong emotion, energy, etc.

• 3 the anus of a lower animal such as a fish, serving for both excretion and reproduction.

• 4 historical the touch hole of a gun.

▶verb

• 1 give free expression to (a strong emotion).

• 2 discharge or expel (air, gas, or liquid) through an outlet.

  ■ provide with an outlet for air, gas, or liquid.

  ■ permit air to enter (a beer cask).

– derivatives
vented adjective,
ventless adjective.

– origin ME: partly from Fr. vent ‘wind’, from L. ventus, reinforced by Fr. évent, from éventer ‘expose to air’.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
vent2

▶noun a slit in a garment, especially in the lower part of the seam at the back of a coat.

– origin ME: alt. of dial. fent, from OFr. fente ‘slit’, based on L. findere ‘cleave’.