adit

noun

ad·​it ˈa-dət 

: a nearly horizontal passage from the surface in a mine

Examples of adit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The second phase will involve closing the mine’s adits and shafts. —USA TODAY, 27 June 2019

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin aditus "approach, entrance," from adi-, stem of adīre "to go to, approach" (from ad- ad- + īre "to go") + -tus, suffix of action nouns — more at issue entry 1

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined above