Also 5 Sc. ventulacioun, 6 ventilacyon. [a. L. ventilātiōn-, ventilātio (Pliny), an exposing to the air, f. ventilāre VENTILATE v.; hence also It. ventilazione, F. ventilation, Sp. -acion, Pg. -ação.]
I. † 1. A stir or motion of the air; a current of air; a breeze. Obs.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Gov. Princes, Wks. (S.T.S.), II. 158. The ayr passis sa throu the warlde, throu blastis of wyndis, and othir maner of ventulaciounis.
1644. Howell, Twelve Treat. (1661), 9. Sometimes we have a clear azur’d skie with soft gentle ventilations.
1665. Phil. Trans., I. 52. ’Tis affirmed that almost any Ventilation and stirring of the Air doth refrigerate.
1716. Addison, Freeholder, No. 40, ¶ 4. The Soil … must lie fallow … till it has … again enriched itself by the Ventilations of the Air.
1743. S. Hales, Descr. Ventilators, I. 24. A like Ventilation of warm dry Air from the adjoining Stove.
fig. 1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 32. Whosoever feels not the warme gale and gentle ventilation of this Spirit [of God] (though I feele his pulse) I dare not say he lives.
1752. Johnson, Rambler, No. 205, ¶ 5. The mind that is to be moved by the gentle ventilations of gayety.
2. Movement or free course of the air.
1605. Timme, Quersit., II. vii. 138. That renuing is to be attributed to the fire,… the outward ventilation or winding comming between as the instrument.
a. 1682. Sir T. Browne, Tracts (1683), 44. Upon such consideration of winds and ventilation the Ægyptian granaries were made open.
1690. T. Burnet, Theory Earth, II. 55. This present earth … is in most places capable of ventilation, pervious and passable to the winds.
1804. C. B. Brown, trans. Volney’s View Soil U.S., 271. The mercury ranges between 84 and 88 degrees in the shade, where there is ample ventilation.
1813. J. Thomson, Lect. Inflam., 487. The first of these means that is usually mentioned, is a free ventilation of air.
1883. Gresley, Gloss. Coal-M., 270. Ventilation, the atmospheric air circulating in a mine.
3. Oxygenation of the blood, spec. in the act of respiration; = AERATION 3.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 121. By ventilation to cherish, refresh and increase his naturall heate with their heat and vitall spirit.
1660. Boyle, New Exp. Phys. Mech., 350. Another Opinion there is touching Respiration, which makes the genuine use of it to be Ventilation … of the Blood.
1665. G. Harvey, Disc. Plague, xiv. in Morb. Angl. (1673), 144. To procure the Blood and Spirits … a free Course, ventilation, and transpiration, by suitable Purges.
1822–7. Good, Study Med. (1829), I. 504. The lungs,… in which the air undergoes the important process of ventilation. Ibid., III. 209. The new and unripe blood is hurried forward to the lungs … to be completed by the process of ventilation.
4. The admission of a proper supply of fresh air, esp. to a room, building, mine or other place where the air readily becomes stagnant and vitiated; the means or method by which this is accomplished.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., I. 65. We see in wet Hay, how the Spirits … (if they be not cooled and prevented by Ventilation) … break out into a flame also.
1743. S. Hales, Descr. Ventilators, I. 34. This Ventilation will also be of service to preserve … the Timber and Planks of the Hold itself.
1753. Scots Mag., Feb., 99/2. Before ventilation, the foul air … became infectious.
1789. W. Buchan, Dom. Med. (1790), 111. When cleanliness and ventilation are neglected.
1836–41. Brande, Chem. (ed. 5), 145. The rooms are close and oppressive, because due ventilation is not associated with the admission of the hot air.
1854. Poultry Chron., I. 32. Sufficient ventilation to prevent the house becoming too hot or close in summer … must also receive attention.
1889. Welch, Text Bk. Naval Archit., 131. Pipes … leading from above the upper deck to the compartments requiring ventilation.
fig. 1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 101, ¶ 14. The mind stagnates without external ventilation.
b. Const. of (the place ventilated).
1827. Gentl. Mag., XCVII. 509. Attention to the construction, ventilation, and cleanliness of prisons.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 307/1. The steam-jet for the ventilation of mines was used long ago, and then abandoned.
1893. Hodges, Elem. Photogr., 36. To ensure the efficient ventilation of the dark-room.
c. attrib., as ventilation-fan, -pipe, shaft, etc.
1823. in Hebert, Engin. & Mech. Encycl. (1837), II. 846. The end of the ventilation-pipe.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 853. The ventilation shaft.
1889. Welch, Text Bk. Naval Archit., 133. Where … platforms are pierced for ventilation purposes.
c. 1890. W. H. Casmey, Ventilation, 7. In moving economically the air through our mills and workshops, we must bring the ventilation fan to our aid.
II. 5. The action of fanning or blowing; † the winnowing of corn in this way.
1519. Horman, Vulg., 42. It is no good phisike, that whan a man is sore chafed with heate, for to cole hym with ventilacyon of clothes.
1658. Phillips, Ventilation, a fanning, or gathering of winde; also a winnowing of Corn.
1668. Wilkins, Real Char., 245. Operations belonging to Agriculture, do concern … the grane…, [as] Winnowing, fan, Ventilation.
1743. S. Hales, Descr. Ventilators, I. 97. If it [sc. corn] were afterwards dried by the Ventilation of these Bellows. Ibid. (1755), in Phil. Trans., XLIX. 316. In several other distillations of a quart at a time, I found the quantity distilled by ventilation to be more than the double of that in the usual way.
1817. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., xx. II. 194. These vibrations are so rapid as to render the wings almost invisible. When they are engaged in ventilation, the bees [etc.]. Ibid., 199. Amongst the bees … ventilation goes on even in the depth of winter.
6. fig. Free or open discussion of or debate upon a doctrine, question or subject of public interest; the action or fact of bringing to public notice in this way.
Freq. c. 1645–1660, and from c. 1860.
a. 1614. Donne, Βιαθανατος (1644), 97. The other reasons of Divine Authors … shall have their ventilation in this Distinction.
1651. Baxter, Inf. Bapt., 19. If the kindled humor had not had a free ventilation in Pulpit and in Press.
1677. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, IV. 392. I shal not now enter on the solemn ventilation and debate of this Antithesis.
1850. J. H. Newman, Diff. Anglicans, 177. Careful ventilation of questions.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. iii. 205. That the grievances of the nation … should be submitted to a complete ventilation.
1892. Photogr. Ann., II. 237. What new aspect of the subject can call for ventilation and publicity in Photography Annual?
† b. The utterance or expression of one’s thoughts, etc. Obs.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 300. So by the ventilation or skirmish of aduersary opinions the truth comes best to be knowne.
a. 1639. Wotton, Buckingham, in Reliq. (1651), 106. Dr. Mason, whom he layed in a Pallet neer him, for naturall Ventilation of his thoughts.
† c. pl. Windy speculations; vaporings. Obs.–1
1648. Lightfoot, Horæ Hebraicæ (1684), II. 611. It would be very tedious to quote their Ventilations about it.
