mofette

mofette (or moffette) - n., a vent near recent volcanic activity emitting carbon dioxide, steam, and sometimes other gasses; the gasses vented from such an opening.


Pronounced usually moh-FET but sometimes frenchified maw-FET, for we got it from French, who took it from Italian moffetta, who adapted it from Lombard muffa, mould, from Germanic roots (cf. modern German Muff, mould). Mouldy volcanoes -- I love it. Mofettes -- usually better known as fumaroles -- are usually part of the last stage of volcanic activity.

---L.