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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Vent, Went, n.² [e.m.E. vent (1558), OF esvent, F. vent, event, L. vent-us.]

1. An opening or aperture a. In the body. b. In a building, container, etc. to allow air to circulate, light to enter, vapour to escape, etc. Also in comb., vent hoill.a. 1456 Hay II 121/5.
The kembing of thy hede chacis all the vapouris and the humouris that ar ascendit fra thy stomak to thy hede, and gerris thame descend in thy body to the naturale ventis and issues quhare it appertenisb. 1460 Hay Alex. 15851.
Ane tvn of glas, Off tewich metall that on-brekabill was … Ane opyn went abone it couplit had Quhilk was of ledder like ane chenȝie made And borne with bollis fletand on the flude Howeuer the wynd was ay it wpwart stude … And syne gart synk it … And tuke with him in fallowis tua or thre, For to persaue the secretis of the sey a1585 Polwart Flyt. 197 (T).
Quhair tuelf knichtis kichingis hes a vent 1632 Lithgow Trav. vii 306.
The streets are … couered to saue them from the parching heate with open vents for lightcomb. 1615 Crim. Trials III 361.
He nychtlie … resoirtit to the said heuche in secreit maner, fed and nureischet the said fyre, stoppit the haill air and vent hoillis with stray quhairthrow the said fyre sould nocht be discoverit

c. An opening or channel to allow drainage, etc. d. The flue of a chimney.c. 1551 Dundee B. Ct. II 79 (24 July).
Marioun Aire hes brokine the quenis gracis cawsay … & maid ane went to ane closat to pas that way the quhilkis personin findis the said Marioun Aire to have done wrang putting the conduct of hir closat in sic ane place 1646 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 782.
It is … ordanit that the new calsay before baylie Carsanes hous be cuttit that the water it may have it descent through the old venttis and that the saidis old ventis be maid cleir that the water may run awayd. 1612 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 326.
Ane schemley of scley … to be takin downe … and the went begit up againe 1644 Glasgow Chart. II 623.
James was ordanit to lay his said brese … or vent to the … gavell

e. An opening, crack or hole which ought not to be present. 1541 Treas. Acc. VIII 125.
At the quhilk melting becaus of ane vent in the cuppeling of the mulde witht the tayll, the pece felȝeit, and thairfor wes brokin

2. a. Ventilation. b. Emission, discharge. c. An occasion of or opportunity for ventilation.a. 1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 100.
To the said kechin ruf in xiiii cupillis to the samen with baulkis angularis and ryn pan and als with ane aiphous in the heid of the samen for the mair wentb. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 166.
I sall the venome devoid with a vent large And me assuage of the swalme that suellit wes gretc. c1620 Boyd Garden of Zion in Zion's Fl. App. x/1.
In caskes the finest wine; Which by some chink, if it get not a vent, Blowes up the bung, or doth the hodg-head rent

3. To tak vent. a. fig. To circulate some knowledge of a matter. b. Of coin: To pass into circulation.a. 1631 Justiciary Cases I 180.
Loird Reay said that surelie the Hammiltones had taken some vent of the bussines and that Sir James Ramsay had told him he had fyftene hundreth men in readynes upone ane houres wairningb. 1641 Acts V 341/2.
Conserneing … the copper money allreddy coyned, how the same shall take vent and passe in payment in tymecomeing