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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

VENT, n.², v.² Also vend. Sc. usages of Eng. vent, an outlet, to emit, discharge:

I. n. 1. (1) The flue of a chimney, the duct used to convey smoke out of a room (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson). Gen.Sc.Ayr. 1702 Mun. Irvine (1891) 112–113:
To build his new gavill thereupon and to carry up vents therein.Gsw. 1747 Records Trades Ho. (1934) 343:
Sweeping the vent of the little hall in the Hospitall.Sc. 1800 Scots Mag. (Jan.) 68:
Suspecting however the depredator might be concealed in the vent, they set fire to some straw.Sc. 1821 Scott Kenilworth x.:
By some concealed vent the smithy communicated with the upper air.Fif. 1883 W. D. Latto Bodkin Papers 46:
I was obliged to gang doon on my knees, lay my face close to the ribs, an' tak' a visie o' the vent.Rxb. c.1885 W. Laidlaw Poetry (1901) 34:
Lang syne the vents were built sae wide.Edb. 1931 E. Albert Herrin' Jennie II. ii.:
I've aye kept my spare money up that vent — in a brick that's oot.

(2) in Mining: a return airway in the ventilation system of a mine (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 69).

2. The opening of a fireplace, considered as being the lower end of the flue (Sh., ne.Sc. 1973).Edb. 1913 F. Niven Ellen Adair i.:
Ah'll put it at the side of the vent here for kindlin the fire in the morning.Edb. 1936 F. Niven Old Soldier xiv.:
They [sweeps] drape sacking over what they call the vent, the fireplace.

3. A chimney head or stack (Inv. 1905 E.D.D.; Sh., ne.Sc. Ags., Rxb. 1973).Edb. 1726 D. Robertson S. Leith Rec. (1925) 47:
Raising his vents to lay them to the backs of his neighbouring Heretors Gavells.Edb. 1746 Forfeited Estate Papers (S.H.S.) 295:
Mending the brocken bridg betuxt the Coffie house and the other Vent.Mry. 1798 Grant and Leslie Survey Mry. 104:
Each vent springs lightly from the blue roof in its own separate airy column.Ags. 1889 Barrie W. in Thrums ii.:
See if the spare bedroom vent at the manse is gaen.

II. v. †1. To put (money or the like) into circulation or currency. Rare and obs. in Eng.Rnf. 1727 W. Hector Judicial Rec. (1876) I. 135:
The venting or outputting of false or counterfite coyne.Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 316:
Tak ye tent, How, and to whom your bills ye vent.Sc. 1800 Edb. Mag. (July) 83:
Vending, issuing, and using the note. . . . knowing the same to be forged.

2. tr. or absol., of a chimney, room, etc.: to discharge or emit smoke, to allow smoke to pass through or from it (Sc. 1825 Jam.; I., n.Sc., Lth., Lnk. 1973).Sc. 1756 M. Calderwood Journey (M.C.) 225:
These stoves will not vent at the chimney, but are often let out in a hole in the outer wall.Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary xi.:
The Green Room disna vent weel in a high wind.Per. 1837 J. Monteath Dunblane Traditions (1887) 82:
An aperture of no small dimensions was left in the middle of the ridge to admit the light and “vent the reek”.

3. intr. Of smoke, foul air, etc.: to find its way out into the air, to have room to pass away (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 69). Rare and obs. in Eng.Ayr. 1817 D. M'Killop Poems 133:
An' tho' his mouth it was na reekin', Wi vendin' smoke.Ayr. 1823 Galt R. Gilhaize III. vii.:
If the wind should rise, and the smoke no vent sae weel.