Tun"nel (?), n. . [F. tonnelle a
semicircular, wagon-headed vault, a tunnel net, an arbor, OF. also
tonnel; dim. of tonne a tun; -- so named from its resemblance
to a tun in shape. See Ton.] 1. A vessel with a
broad mouth at one end, a pipe or tube at the other, for conveying liquor,
fluids, etc., into casks, bottles, or other vessels; a funnel.
2. The opening of a chimney for the passage of
smoke; a flue; a funnel.
And one great chimney, whose long tunnel thence
The smoke forth threw.
Spenser.
3. An artificial passage or archway for conducting
canals or railroads under elevated ground, for the formation of roads under
rivers or canals, and the construction of sewers, drains, and the
like.
4. (Mining) A level passage driven across
the measures, or at right angles to veins which it is desired to reach; --
distinguished from the drift, or gangway, which is led along
the vein when reached by the tunnel.
Tunnel head (Metal.), the top of a smelting
furnace where the materials are put in. -- Tunnel
kiln, a limekiln in which coal is burned, as distinguished
from a flame kiln, in which wood or peat is used. --
Tunnel net, a net with a wide mouth at one end and
narrow at the other. -- Tunnel pit, Tunnel
shaft, a pit or shaft sunk from the top of the ground to the
level of a tunnel, for drawing up the earth and stones, for ventilation,
lighting, and the like.
Tun"nel, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Tunneled (&?;) or Tunnelled; p. pr. &
vb. n. Tunneling or Tunnelling.]
1. To form into a tunnel, or funnel, or to form
like a tunnel; as, to tunnel fibrous plants into nests.
Derham.
2. To catch in a tunnel net.
3. To make an opening, or a passageway, through or
under; as, to tunnel a mountain; to tunnel a river.
Tun"nel (?), n. . [F. tonnelle a
semicircular, wagon-headed vault, a tunnel net, an arbor, OF. also
tonnel; dim. of tonne a tun; -- so named from its resemblance
to a tun in shape. See Ton.] 1. A vessel with a
broad mouth at one end, a pipe or tube at the other, for conveying liquor,
fluids, etc., into casks, bottles, or other vessels; a funnel.
2. The opening of a chimney for the passage of
smoke; a flue; a funnel.
And one great chimney, whose long tunnel thence
The smoke forth threw.
Spenser.
3. An artificial passage or archway for conducting
canals or railroads under elevated ground, for the formation of roads under
rivers or canals, and the construction of sewers, drains, and the
like.
4. (Mining) A level passage driven across
the measures, or at right angles to veins which it is desired to reach; --
distinguished from the drift, or gangway, which is led along
the vein when reached by the tunnel.
Tunnel head (Metal.), the top of a smelting
furnace where the materials are put in. -- Tunnel
kiln, a limekiln in which coal is burned, as distinguished
from a flame kiln, in which wood or peat is used. --
Tunnel net, a net with a wide mouth at one end and
narrow at the other. -- Tunnel pit, Tunnel
shaft, a pit or shaft sunk from the top of the ground to the
level of a tunnel, for drawing up the earth and stones, for ventilation,
lighting, and the like.
Tun"nel, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Tunneled (&?;) or Tunnelled; p. pr. &
vb. n. Tunneling or Tunnelling.]
1. To form into a tunnel, or funnel, or to form
like a tunnel; as, to tunnel fibrous plants into nests.
Derham.
2. To catch in a tunnel net.
3. To make an opening, or a passageway, through or
under; as, to tunnel a mountain; to tunnel a river.
