camouflet

noun

ca·​mou·​flet

¦kamə¦flā

plural -s

1

: a mine so charged and placed that its detonation will destroy enemy mining tunnels

2

a

: an underground or subsurface explosion of a bomb or shell that leaves a sealed pocket of smoke and gas

b

: a pocket formed in this way

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, smoke blown into a sleeper's face from lighted paper

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