Also 5 vent, 5–7 fente, 7 fenth. [ad. Fr. fente, f. fendre:—L. findĕre to split.]
1. A short slit or opening in a robe, esp. the opening at the throat, usually closed by a brooch, trimmed with fur, etc. Also a placket or placket-hole. Now chiefly dial.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 5941.
| But the stroke vndre the fent | |
| Queyntly al a-side it went. |
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 156. Fente of a clothe, fibulatorium.
c. 1450. Henryson, Mor. Fab., 55.
| The Sommer with his joly mantle greene, | |
| With flours fair furred on euerie fent. |
1459. Wardrobe Sir T. Fastolf, in Archæologia, XXI. 253. i jakket of red felwet, the ventis bounde with red lether.
a. 1500. Assembly of Ladies.
| After a sort, the coller and the vent | |
| Like as armine is made in purfeling, | |
| With greate pearles full fine and orient, | |
| They were couched all after one worching. |
1502. Privy Purse Exp. Eliz. of York (1830), 69. Item for a nayle of sarcenet for fentes for the same gowne iiijd.
1530. Palsgr., 219/2. Fent of a gowne, fente.
1611. Cotgr., La fente d’une chemise, the fent of a shirt.
1652. Urquhart, Jewel, Wks. (1834), 241. The sweet and beautiful lady, who by this time had slipped her self into a cloth of gold petticoat, in the anterior fente whereof was an asteristick ouch, wherin were inchased fifteen several diamonds.
1814. Law Case (Jam.). He put his hand … into the fent of her petticoat.
2. † a. A crack in the skin (obs.); b. (see quot. 1776); c. an opening or rift in the ground.
1597. Lowe, Chirurg. (1634), 188. As touching Clifts or Fenths in the eares or nose, they be handled after the same forme.
1776. Da Costa, Conch., 243. The fent (Rima) is the opening of the Shells on the Slopes.
1874. Lady Herbert, trans. Hübner’s Ramble, II. ii. (1878), 244. We follow the course of a ravine, or rather a deep fent in the soil.
3. dial. The binding of any part of the dress.
1847. in Halliwell.
1877. N. W. Linc. Gloss., Fent.… The binding of a woman’s dress.
4. A remnant (of cloth).
1847. in Halliwell.
1855. Robinson, Whitby Gloss., Fents … remnants of cloth in varieties.
1860. O’Neill, Chem. Calico-Printing, 312. If a fent mordanted for black and purple be dipped in hot caustic soda, it will [etc.].
1865. B. Brierley, Irkdale, I. 156. He had seen with pride the pinafore give place to a small leaf-like apron that she had made out of a couple of fents of his own weaving.
5. attrib., (sense 4) as fent-dealer, -merchant.
1884. Manch. Exam., 18 Sept., 5/3. Mr. M. … started in business as a fent and general merchant.
1892. Simmonds, Trade Dict., Sup., Fent-Dealer, a piece broker, a retailer of remnants of cloth.
