blowhole

[ bloh-hohl ]

noun

1. an air or gas vent, especially one to carry off fumes from a tunnel, underground passage, etc.
2. either of two nostrils or spiracles, or a single one, at the top of the head in whales and other cetaceans, through which they breathe.
3. a hole in the ice to which whales or seals come to breathe.
4. Metallurgy. a defect in a casting or ingot caused by the escape of gas.
5. Geology. a hole in a sea cliff or coastal terrace through which columns of spray are jetted upward.

blowhole

/ ˈbləʊˌhəʊl /

noun

1. the nostril, paired or single, of whales, situated far back on the skull
2. a hole in ice through which whales, seals, etc, breathe
3. 1. a vent for air or gas, esp to release fumes from a tunnel, passage, etc
   2. a hole emitting gas or steam in a volcanic region
4. a bubble-like defect in an ingot resulting from gas being trapped during solidification
5. geology a hole in a cliff top leading to a sea cave through which air is forced by the action of the sea

Word History and Origins

Origin of blowhole¹

First recorded in 1685–95; blow ² + hole

Example Sentences

Like the blue whale, fin whales are balleens, sporting two blowholes and, instead of teeth, hundreds of rows of baleen plates made of keratin.

From Los Angeles Times

One shows bored fisherman being surprised by giant beer cans acting as whales, spraying water from their blowholes as they surface.

From Seattle Times

It was like being shot through the blowhole of a huge whale!

From Literature

One of the orcas then pulled up beside the stunned whale watchers and sprayed a blood-red mixture of air, mucus and dolphin bits out of its blowhole.

From Los Angeles Times

The scientists eyed each other with suspicion before it dawned on them: The odor was coming from the clouds of mist that the whales were expelling from their blowholes.

From New York Times