snorkel

snorkel
snorkeler, n.
/snawr"keuhl/, n.
1. Also called, Brit., snort. a device permitting a submarine to remain submerged for prolonged periods, consisting of tubes extended above the surface of the water to take in air for the diesel engine and for general ventilation and to discharge exhaust gases and foul air.
2. a hard rubber or plastic tube through which a swimmer can breathe while moving face down at or just below the surface of the water.
v.i.
3. to engage in snorkeling.
[1940-45; < G Schnorchel air intake]

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▪ ventilation device
      ventilating tube for submerged submarines, introduced in German U-boats during World War II. A basic problem of submarines powered by internal-combustion engines was that of recharging the batteries, which were used for propelling the boat when it was fully submerged. Because the generator (used for recharging the batteries) was powered by the internal-combustion engine, which required air, the submarine had to surface and so expose itself to detection if it wanted to recharge its batteries. The snorkel, raised while the submarine cruised just beneath the surface, permitted air intake and fume exhaust by the internal-combustion engine, so that the batteries could be recharged without the submarine having to surface.

      Analogous tubes, also called snorkels, fitted to face masks permit swimmers to breathe while just below the surface of the water.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • snorkel — ► NOUN ▪ a tube for a swimmer to breathe through while under water. ► VERB (snorkelled, snorkelling; US snorkeled, snorkeling) ▪ swim using a snorkel. DERIVATIVES snorkeller noun snorkelling …   English terms dictionary

  • snorkel — ☆ snorkel [snôr′kəl ] n. [Ger schnorchel, inlet, breathing tube, lit., snort, akin to schnarchen, to snore, akin to SNORE] 1. a device for submarines, consisting of air intake and exhaust tubes: it permits submergence for long periods 2. a… …   English World dictionary

  • snorkel — (n.) 1944, airshaft for submarines, from Ger. Schnorchel, from Ger. navy slang Schnorchel nose, snout, related to schnarchen to snore (see SNORE (Cf. snore)). So called from its resemblance to a nose and its noise when in use. The anglicized… …   Etymology dictionary

  • snorkel — I UK [ˈsnɔː(r)k(ə)l] / US [ˈsnɔrk(ə)l] noun [countable] Word forms snorkel : singular snorkel plural snorkels a piece of equipment with a tube that fits in your mouth so that you can breathe while swimming under water II UK [ˈsnɔː(r)k(ə)l] / US… …   English dictionary

  • snorkel — I. noun Etymology: German Schnorchel Date: 1944 1. a tube housing air intake and exhaust pipes for a submarine s diesel engine that can be extended above the water s surface so that the engines can be operated while the submarine is submerged 2.… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Snorkel — Schnorchel Un schnorchel (orthographe allemande), snorkel ou tube d air est un tube hissable à l immersion périscopique, permettant à un sous marin de faire fonctionner ses moteurs diesel, alimentant ces derniers en air sans avoir à faire surface …   Wikipédia en Français

  • snorkel — snor|kel [ˈsno:kəl US ˈsno:r ] n ↑gauge, ↑mask, ↑snorkel [Date: 1900 2000; : German; Origin: schnorchel] a tube that allows someone who is swimming to breathe air under water ▪ This is the best snorkel at that price …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • snorkel — snor|kel1 [ snɔrkl ] noun count a piece of equipment with a tube that fits in your mouth so that you can breathe while swimming under water snorkel snor|kel 2 [ snɔrkl ] (present participle snor|kel|ing or snor|kel|ling; past tense and past… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • snorkel — [[t]snɔ͟ː(r)k(ə)l[/t]] snorkels, snorkelling, snorkelled (in AM, use snorkeling, snorkeled) 1) N COUNT A snorkel is a tube through which a person swimming just under the surface of the sea can breathe. 2) VERB When someone snorkels, they swim… …   English dictionary

  • snorkel — 1. noun a) A hollow tube, held in the mouth, used by swimmers for breathing underwater. b) A retractable tube fitted in diesel engine submarines to allow sufficient ventilation that the engines may be used at …   Wiktionary

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