vent

Middle English venten “to provide with an air hole,” in part verbal derivative of vent “anus, outlet, ²vent,” in part short for aventen “to cool (oneself, as by removing a helmet), release, let air out of,” borrowed from Anglo-French aventer “to allow to escape, release, fan,” probably altered by vowel reduction from Old French esventer “to fan, cool by stirring the air,” going back to Vulgar Latin *exventāre, from Latin ex- ¹ex- + -ventāre, verbal derivative of ventus “wind” — more at ¹wind

First Known Use: 14th century

Middle English, “anus, outlet,” probably borrowed from Anglo-French, “wind, cold air, draft, outlet” (continental Old French, “wind”), going back to Latin ventus “wind” — more at ¹wind

First Known Use: 15th century

Middle English vent, fente, borrowed from Anglo-French fente “split, crack, opening,” derivative of fendre “to split” (going back to Latin findere), probaby by analogy with pairs such as rendre “to yield,” rente “income” — more at ¹bite, ¹render, ¹rent

First Known Use: 15th century