camonflet

English

Etymology

French

Noun

camonflet (plural camonflets)

1. (military) A small mine, sometimes formed in the wall or side of an enemy's gallery, to blow in the earth and cut off the retreat of the miners.
   • 1855, The Friend: A Religious and Literary Journal:

     the French were throwing camonflets or stink-pots into the city as a means of annoyance to its defenders.

Further reading

• “camonflet”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.