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blowhole

[bloh-hohl]

Origin

noun

an air or gas vent, especially one to carry off fumes from a tunnel, underground passage, etc.

either of two nostrils or spiracles, or a single one, at the top of the head in whales and other cetaceans, through which they breathe.

a hole in the ice to which whales or seals come to breathe.

Metallurgy. a defect in a casting or ingot caused by the escape of gas.

Geology. a hole in a sea cliff or coastal terrace through which columns of spray are jetted upward.

Origin:
1685–95; blow² + hole

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Collins

World English Dictionary

blowhole (ˈbləʊˌhəʊl)

—n
1.	the nostril, paired or single, of whales, situated far back on the skull
2.	a hole in ice through which whales, seals, etc, breathe
3.	a. a vent for air or gas, esp to release fumes from a tunnel, passage, etc
	b. (NZ) a hole emitting gas or steam in a volcanic region
4.	a bubble-like defect in an ingot resulting from gas being trapped during solidification
5.	geology a hole in a cliff top leading to a sea cave through which air is forced by the action of the sea

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

blowhole

1787, of whales and porpoises, from blow (v.1) + hole.

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blowhole

blow·hole