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)
Words nearby camouflet
camoodi,
camorra,
camorrista,
camote,
camouflage,
camouflet,
camoëns,
camp,
camp bastion,
camp bed,
camp chair