mofette

or mof·fette

[ moh-fet; French maw-fet ]

noun

1. a noxious emanation, consisting chiefly of carbon dioxide, escaping from the earth in regions of nearly extinct volcanic activity.
2. one of the openings or fissures from which this emanation issues.

mofette

/ məʊˈfɛt /

noun

1. an opening in a region of nearly extinct volcanic activity, through which carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and other gases pass

Word History and Origins

Origin of mofette¹

First recorded in 1815–25; from French, from Italian moffetta (Neapolitan mufeta ), equivalent to muff(a) ( Upper Italian mofa ) “mold” (from Langobardic; compare German Muff “mold,” late Middle High German müffeln “to give off a foul smell”) + -etta -ette ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of mofette¹

C19: from French, from Neapolitan Italian mofeta; compare dialect German muffezen to smell fetid