\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.

\Vent\, v. t.
To sell; to vend. [Obs.]
      Therefore did those nations vent such spice. --Sir W.
                                               Raleigh.

\Vent\, n. [Sp. venta a poor inn, sale, market. See {Vent}
sale.]
A baiting place; an inn. [Obs.]

\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.

\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) (Zo["o]l.) 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} (Zo["o]l.), 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.

\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.