blowhole

English

noun
Definitions
  • The spiracle, on the top of the head, through which cetaceans breathe.
  • A vent for the escape of gas.
  • A top-facing opening to a cavity in the ground very near an ocean's shore, leading to a marine cave from which wave water or bursts of air are expelled.
  • (metallurgy) An unintended cavity filled with air in a casting product.
  • (computer hardware) A vertical opening in the top of computer cases, that let hot air, primarily from the CPU heat sink, escape quickly.

Etymology

Compound from English blow (bloom, blue, alteration of below, flower, fellate, blossom) + English hole (miserable place, a hollow).

Origin

English

hole

Gloss

miserable place, a hollow

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms