Fumarole
/ˈfjuː.mə.roʊl/noun
A hole or opening in the ground that emits steam and volcanic gases.
Did you know?Fumarole comes through Italian from Latin roots meaning smoke, and it names one of the most eerie places on Earth: a crack where the planet exhales toxic vapor.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
fumus
“smoke”
Italian
Italian
fumarola
“a little smoke hole or steam vent”
19th Century
French/English
fumarole
“a volcanic vent emitting steam and gas”
Modern English
English
fumarole
“a vent in volcanic terrain that releases steam and gases”