And one great chimney, whose long tunnel thence The smoke forth threw.
Spenser.
3. An artificial passage or archway for conducting canals or railroads
under elevated ground, for the formation of roads under rivers or
canals, and the construction of sewers, drains, and the like.
4. (Mining) A level passage driven across the measures, or at right
angles to veins which it is desired to reach; — distinguished from the
drift, or gangway, which is led along the vein when reached by the
tunnel.
Tunnel head (Metal.), the top of a smelting furnace where the materials
are put in. — Tunnel kiln, a limekiln in which coal is burned, as
distinguished from a flame kiln, in which wood or peat is used. —
Tunnel net, a net with a wide mouth at one end and narrow at the other.
— Tunnel pit, Tunnel shaft, a pit or shaft sunk from the top of the
ground to the level of a tunnel, for drawing up the earth and stones,
for ventilation, lighting, and the like.
Tun"nel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tunneled (&?;) or Tunnelled; p. pr. & vb.
n. Tunneling or Tunnelling.]
1. To form into a tunnel, or funnel, or to form like a tunnel; as, to
tunnel fibrous plants into nests. Derham.