camouflet

[ kam-uh-fley, kam-uh-fley ]
/ ˌkæm əˈfleɪ, ˈkæm əˌfleɪ /

noun

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

Origin of camouflet

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- (see cabbage1)

Example sentences from the Web for camouflet