Also 5 ventte, 5–6 vente. [Variant of FENT sb.]
1. An opening or slit in a garment, = FENT sb. 1; now spec. the slit in the back of a coat.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, IV. lviii. (1869), 203. She hadde … drawen out hire oon brest bi þe vente of hire cote.
1459, a. 1500. [see FENT sb. 1].
1535. in Archaeologia, IX. 244. A dublette;… the ventes lyned with sarcenette.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 207 b. Twoo gounes;… the capes and ventes were of frettes of whipped gold of damaske very riche.
1587. Holinshed, Chron. (ed. 2), III. 820/1. The trappers of the coursers were mantell harnesse coulpened, and in euerie vent a long bell of fine gold in bullion.
1828. Carr, Craven Gloss., Vent, the opening of the breast of a shirt, or of the sleeve, etc.
1851. Mayne Reid, Scalp-Hunters, vii. 55. Dark-velvet embroidery around the vent and along the borders.
1906. Daily Chron., 4 Oct., 3/4. The vent is necessary … owing to the length of the coat.
† 2. = CRENEL 1. Obs.
1429. in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), II. 445. Item venttes crest xij fott et di., vs. Ibid. Item pro xij pedibus de ventes pro enbatylment’, vs. ijd.
1532. in Bayley, Hist. Tower (1821), p. xvii. Also fynnysshed and made the vents of brycks of the White Tower.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1596), 424. Kernellare … signifieth that indented forme of the top of a Wall which hathe Vent, and Creast, commonly called Embatteling.
1603. B. Jonson, K. Jas.’s Entertainm., Wks. (1616), 843. The Scene presented it selfe in a square and flat vpright, like to the side of a Citie: the top thereof, aboue the Vent, and Crest, adorn’d with houses, towres, and steeples.
