ppl. a. [f. TUNNEL v. (and sb.) + -ED.]
† 1. Formed like a pipe or tube. Obs.
1713. Derham, Phys.-Theol., IV. xiii. (1727), 234, note. The Phalanx-Tribe … inhabit the tunnelled, convolved Leaves.
b. Perforated with a tube.
1890. Billings, Nat. Med. Dict., Tunnelled, term applied to sounds or other instruments having a short tube or tunnel, through which a fine bougie … passes.
c. Enclosed in a tunnel-like cavity.
1901. Westm. Gaz., 13 May, 5/3. A double-funnelled lifeboat, with a tunnelled screw, which will enable her to go in safety into shallow waters and amongst rocks, was launched at Harwich on Saturday.
† 2. Having a tunnel (sense 2), as a chimney.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., x. The soot … showered down the huge tunnelled chimneys.
3. Excavated as, or by, a tunnel; formed by tunnelling.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. xxix. 380. An expansion of the tunnelled entrance made an appendage of … two feet more.
1861. Wilson & Geikie, Mem. E. Forbes, viii. 206. The caves and tunnelled caverns worn out by the Atlantic breakers.
1879. Jas. Grant, in Cassell’s Techn. Educ., v. 286. A tunnelled staircase led to the roof.
1898. P. Manson, Trop. Diseases, xxxiv. 525. In the latter [the brain] it [the distomum Ringesi] forms a sort of tunnelled tumour.
