camouflet

[ kam-uh-fley, kam-uh-fley ]

noun

1. an underground explosion of a bomb or mine that does not break the surface, but leaves an enclosed cavity of gas and smoke.
2. the pocket formed by such an explosion.
3. the bomb or mine so exploded and causing such a pocket.

Word History and Origins

Origin of camouflet¹

1830–40; < French: literally, smoke blown in someone's face as a practical joke, Middle French chault moufflet, equivalent to chault hot (< Latin calidus ) + moufflet presumably “puff, breath”; compare Walloon dial. moufler to puff up the cheeks; 1st syllable probably conformed to the expressive formative ca- ( cabbage ¹ )

Example Sentences

A camouflet does not produce a crater; it is used when the object is to destroy an enemy’s gallery without breaking the surface.

From Project Gutenberg

This forms a small camouflet chamber by compressing the earth around it.

From Project Gutenberg

Working parties were heavy, and on one occasion the Bosche blew a camouflet while work was in progress.

From Project Gutenberg

To "camouflet" became a new English verb British planes tested out a battery's visibility from the air.

From Project Gutenberg

One was set to "camouflet" the automobile van for the pigeons which, carried in baskets on the men's backs in charges, were released as another means of sending word of the progress of an attack obscured in the shell-smoke.

From Project Gutenberg